Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892)

The epic 11th century novel Tale of Genji (Genji monogatari) follows the complicated life and romances of Prince Genji, and the story has inspired endless authors and artists over the following centuries. This design by Yoshitoshi is based upon chapter 4 from the tale, where a beautiful but reclusive lady lives alone in a neglected mansion covered by vines with flowering yugao blossoms. As she refuses to tell Genji her name, he calls her Yugao and soon after they become lovers. However a short time after, Lady Rokujo, one of Genji's jealous former lovers, haunts Yugao and takes her life.

Yoshitoshi's haunting design depicts the sad ghost of Yugao surrounded by twisting vines of yugao.

See Lot 66 for the complete group of 100 designs from this series.

For another impression in the collection of the British Museum, registration number 1906,1220,0.1437, go to www.britishmuseum.org/research