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Ukifune by Ebina Masao — Japanese Woodblock print

Ukifune

by Ebina Masao

FiguresRivers & LakesBijin-ga
Medium:
Woodblock print
Format:
Oban

Description

"Ukifune" appears here as a variant or alternate rendering by Ebina of Chapter 51 — the chapter in which Ukifune, caught between two men and belonging fully to neither, walks into the Uji River rather than continue her impossible situation. The floating boat image — the untethered vessel carried by current — is the chapter's central metaphor for a woman without anchor or agency, beautiful and desired but unable to determine her own fate. This alternate rendering may approach the chapter's tragedy from a different visual angle.

More Prints by Ebina Masao

Asago- The Morning Glory — 朝顔 by Ebina Masao

Asago- The Morning Glory — 朝顔

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The First Song of the Year — 初音 by Ebina Masao

The First Song of the Year — 初音

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Tamakatsura from Lady Murasaki's "The Tale of Genji" by Ebina Masao

Tamakatsura from Lady Murasaki's "The Tale of Genji"

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Chapter 33 - Leaves of Wisteria - 藤裏葉 by Ebina Masao

Chapter 33 - Leaves of Wisteria - 藤裏葉

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More Figures Prints

Shamyris, Shôwa period, dated 1965? by Hideo Hagiwara

Shamyris, Shôwa period, dated 1965?

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Celebrating the Good Harvest: Felicitations for a Thousand Ages (Nôhônen, Chiyo no kotobuki) by Kawanabe Kyosai

Celebrating the Good Harvest: Felicitations for a Thousand Ages (Nôhônen, Chiyo no kotobuki)

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Midas, Shôwa period, dated 1965? by Hideo Hagiwara

Midas, Shôwa period, dated 1965?

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Gundari Myôô, Shôwa period, dated 1962 by Kihei Sasajima

Gundari Myôô, Shôwa period, dated 1962

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Featured in Collections

Curated cross-cuts that include this print.

Bijin-ga: Japanese Beauty Prints

Frequently Asked Questions

Ukifune was created by Ebina Masao (海老名正夫).

Ukifune depicts figures, rivers & lakes, and bijin-ga.