Utagawa Kunisada II; Murasaki Shikibu’s Genji Playing Cards: Ch. 39, Yugiri, 1857
Ink on paper
13 in. x 9 1/4 in.
Scripps College, Claremont, CA
Gift of Mrs. Frederick S. Bailey
Genji's World In Japanese Woodblock prints
January 20 - April 21, 2013
Peeler Art Center, University Gallery (upper level)
The Tale of Genji, written over 1,000 years ago by the Japanese court lady Murasaki Shikibu, has greatly influenced Japanese culture, seen in paintings, prints, short stories, novels, noh plays, kabuki performances, operas, movies, symphonies, manga and anime. Featured in this exhibition is a rich array of woodblock prints by many of Japan's leading artists, drawn from the Scripps College collection and the personal collection of Jack and Paulette Lantz. An elaborately illustrated book, edited by Dr. Andreas Marks and published by Hotei Publishing, is available for purchase from Amazon.com. The exhibition is organized by Dr. Bruce Coats, Professor of Art History and Humanities, in conjunction with two classes on Japanese arts. The book is funded in part by the Blakemore Foundation, the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation, Union Bank, and the Aoki Endowment for Japanese Arts and Cultures.