Description
Hotoke Gozen (佛御前), shirabyoshi (白拍子) dancer and favorite of the famous warrior Taira no Kiyomori (平清盛), is traveling in the moonlight towards the mountain hut of her former colleague, the court dancer Gio (祇王), who now lives in that place as a nun together with her mother and younger sister. Gio had been expelled from the palace to make way for our Hotoke who now goes to the hermitage to ask for forgiveness, as well as permission to join the group of nuns.
The precious woodblock print presented here was made around 1845 by the artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi (歌川国芳) and is taken from the series “Set of Delicate Ladies of Our Country” (本朝たおやめ揃の内), produced by the publisher Wakasaya Yoichi (若狭屋与市), owner of Jakurindo (若林堂).
The print on Japanese washi paper (和紙), despite the presence of restorations and obvious signs of aging, is in overall good condition.
