The contents of this item, including all images and text, are for personal, educational, and non-commercial use only. The contents of this item may not be reproduced in any form without the express permission of Scripps College. Any form of image reproduction, transmission, display, or storage in any retrieval system is prohibited without the written consent of Scripps College and other copyright holders. Scripps College retains all rights, including copyright, in data, images, documentation, text and other information contained in these files. For permissions, please contact: Scripps College, Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery Attn: Rights and Reproductions, 1030 Columbia Avenue, Claremont, CA 91711
Description
Tokiwa gozen had to flee Kyoto in the dead of winter after her husband Minamoto no Yoshitomo (1123-60) was murdered and their home pillaged. (See Plate 55) Here she clasps to her chest their youngest son Ushiwaka, wrapped in orange brocade; he will grow up to be the brilliant warrior Minamoto no Yoshitsune (1159-89). Shivering next to her is Otowaka, who will become the monk Gien, and following is Imawaka, later known as the monk Zenjo. The poses of the two older boys are similar to those found in the 1884 "Snow, Moon, Flowers" series, although Otowaka face seems more fearful, and both are shown barefoot, the outlines of their feet disappearing into the snow. In a sense, Chikanobu is revising his earlier image in the larger format, making the weather seem colder and the landscape bleaker. Here, the night sky has been delicately shaded and then splattered with thick white paint to suggest falling snow. A brisk wind in the 1884 has been replaced by a frigid silence. The dull russet of the tree trunks and gray-green of the bamboo and pine are unusual colors for nishiki-e and more typical of Shijo-style bird and flower prints.
If you're wondering about permissions and what you can do with this item, a good starting point is the "rights information" on this page. See our terms of use for more tips.
Share your story
Has Calisphere helped you advance your research, complete a project, or find something meaningful? We'd love to hear about it; please send us a message.
