1756-1829
Seki Temple
(Sekidera)
two beauties with kyodai and mirrors; signed Eishi zu with publisher's tomo-e mark and seal Eijudo (Nishimura Yohachi), censor's seal Kiwame, and Hiyashi collector's seal, ca. 1795-96
aiban tate-e 13 1/4 by 8 7/8 in., 33.5 by 22.7 cm
The poem alludes to Ono no Komachi (ca. 825-900), one of the Six Immortal Poets (Rokkasen), who was renowned for her poetry skills, her great beauty, and her prideful scorn towards any would-be suitors in her youth.
Sekidera
Omokage no kawara de
Toshi no tsumorekashi
Tatoe Inochi ni kagiri arutomo
My face, unchanging
my, the years pile up
like my life, it (my beauty) will surely come to an end
The title of the poem, Sekidera, is a reference to an episode from the Sekidera Komachi, a No play written by Zeami Motokiyo (1363- 443) which tells the story of seven episodes from her life, the Nana Komachi. This print is likely part of a rare untitled series based on the Nana Komachi theme for which Brandt records only the Sekidera design.
Reference:
Klaus J. Brandt, Hosoda Eishi 1756-1829: Der Japanische Maler und Holzschnittmeister und Seine Schuler, 1977, p. 157, no. 338 (series)
(inv. no. 10-2169)
price: Sold