Umegae and Genta in the Bell of Hell Scene from Jо̄ruri Drama Hiragana Seisuiki, New Edition, Part I

Catalog note / 解説

Object Type Woodblock prints such as this were produced in large numbers in 18th- and 19th-century Japan. This print was published in the 1830s, by which time the techniques of full-colour printing had been perfected. Prints such as this are sometimes called <i>ukiyo-e</i>, which means 'pictures of the floating world'. This world was one of transient delights and changing fashions centred on the licensed pleasure districts and popular theatres found in the major cities of Japan. Subject Depicted <i>Joruri</i> is a type of dramatic narrative chanting commonly associated with the <i>bunraku</i> puppet theatre. It flourished during the Edo period (1615-1868). Here, a beautiful woman is depicte…