Lady Ejima and the Actor Ikushima Shingorō
1886
Yoshitoshi captures a moment of forbidden romance in this 1886 woodblock print from his series 'New Selection of Eastern Brocade Pictures'. On the left, kabuki actor Ikushima Shingorō sits coolly in a striped kimono, while Lady Ejima, a high-ranking lady-in-waiting, leans over a balcony with a striking red sash. Their secret affair was so controversial in 1714 that it resulted in the exile of over 1,500 people! The red lanterns and wooden architecture set the scene in a teahouse, highlighting the dangerous allure of the 'floating world' where strict social rules were meant to be broken.
- Technique
- woodblock print
Views: 13