The Wife of Izumi no Saburô Tadahira
Datec. 1841-1842
Artist
Utagawa Kuniyoshi
(Japanese painter, printmaker, and illustrator, 1797–1861)
MediumWoodcut
Dimensionssheet: 14 3/16 × 9 7/8 in. (36 × 25.1 cm)
Credit LineGift of Dr. Charles Lee Reese, 1940
Object number1940-11.387
On View
Not on viewClassificationsPRINT
Label TextThis print is from the highly regarded series Stories of Wise Women and Faithful Wives, and it pictures Fujinoe, the wife of Izumi no Saburô and her servant (pouring hot water). Kuniyoshi was unusual among ukiyo-e printmakers for his interest in depicting strong, individualized women. He first depicted Fujinoe as a fearsome warrior in his c.1830 series Eight Hundred Heroes of Our Country's Suikoden, One by One. Though she appears sweeter here, Fujinoe leans on a naginata, a pole with a sword blade mounted on one end, a weapon traditionally used by samurai, foot soldiers, and warrior monks.
