Sei Shonagon, from the series Ancient Patterns (Kodai moyo)
- Series:
- Ancient Patterns
- Date:
- Meiji period (1896–1912), 1896
- Medium:
- Color woodblock print, oban triptych
- Format:
- Oban
- Source:
- Art Institute of Chicago
Description
Sei Shōnagon — the 11th-century court lady and author of The Pillow Book, one of the masterworks of Japanese literature — is depicted in this 1896 oban triptych from Kiyochika's Ancient Patterns (Kodai moyo) series. Seated in Heian court dress amid the furnishings of an aristocratic interior, Sei Shōnagon is rendered with the antiquarian precision that Kiyochika brought to his historical figure series, the intricate textile patterns and architectural details of the Heian setting studied from historical sources.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Sei Shonagon, from the series Ancient Patterns (Kodai moyo) was created by Kobayashi Kiyochika (小林清親) in Meiji period (1896–1912), 1896.
Yes — Sei Shonagon, from the series Ancient Patterns (Kodai moyo) is part of the Ancient Patterns series by Kobayashi Kiyochika.
Sei Shonagon, from the series Ancient Patterns (Kodai moyo) depicts figures, interiors, and portraits.