Genji Monogatari

A woodblock print inspired by The Tale of Genji, the eleventh-century novel by Murasaki Shikibu that stands as one of the foundational works of Japanese literature. Nakazawa draws on the long artistic tradition of Genji illustrations, which date back to the Heian period and were revived repeatedly across subsequent centuries. As a bijin-ga artist, Nakazawa was well positioned to interpret the novel's courtly world of aristocratic women, layered kimono, and interior scenes lit by candlelight. The shin-hanga treatment brings modern printing refinement to these classical themes, with nuanced color gradations and fine carving that evoke the elegance of Heian court culture.