A Boat Cast Adrift (Ukifune): Omatsu and Akabori Mizuemon
Original title: “‘A Boat Cast Adrift’ (Ukifune): Omatsu and Akabori Mizuemon,” from the series Scenes amid Genji Clouds Matched with Ukiyo-e Pictures (Genji-gumo ukiyo e-awase)
kurzbeschreibung
This colour woodblock print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi belongs to the series Genji-gumo ukiyo e-awase (Genji Clouds, Paired with Ukiyo-e Pictures) and dates to 1845–46. It presents a dramatic encounter between a woman and a man lying on the ground, while in the background a boat drifts on a body of water. The sheet is an ōban-format nishiki-e, printed with ink and colour on paper.
Description
A woman in traditional Japanese clothing dominates the foreground; she grasps a sword hilt and bears down on a man in similar attire who lies on the ground. Her stance appears threatening, while the man remains passive. Behind them, a small boat scene unfolds on a waterway, surrounded by bamboo and greenery. Strong, contrasting colours—especially red, blue and green—define the image. The arrangement is dynamic, gaining tension from the juxtaposition of foreground and background.
Context
This series was created in the mid-1840s, when ukiyo-e artists often linked literary classics such as the Genji monogatari with contemporary motifs. The series Genji-gumo ukiyo e-awase pairs scenes from the Genji novel with actors or historical figures; here they are Omatsu and Akabori Mizuemon from a kabuki play. Such parodies were popular in the Edo period and allowed artists to reinterpret well-known stories.
Impact
Dramatic tension arises from the woman's posture and the passive figure on the ground. Brilliant colours and a clear arrangement give the print an immediate visual presence that draws the viewer into the scene. Together, foreground and background create a narrative depth that reaches beyond the depicted moment.
Technique
The nishiki-e process used several woodblocks for the different colours. Ink and pigments were printed on paper, with contours defined by fine lines of black ink. The precise registration of the printing blocks enables the detailed rendering of patterns and textures in the garments and the background.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)