$500–$4,000. Common landscapes: $500–$1,500. Key value factors: Maeda Masao's atmospheric mountain and landscape prints have a dedicated following among sosaku-hanga collectors.
Chapter 2 of The Tale of Genji — Hahakigi (帚木, "Broom Tree") — contains the famous "rainy night discussion" in which young courtiers debate the qualities of women and establish the novel's framework of comparative female characterization. The chapter's title refers to a tree that appears to be a visible landmark from a distance but disappears when approached — a metaphor for the deceptive nature of certain women's apparent virtues. Maeda Masao's illustration captures the intimate atmosphere of the young men's conversation, the rainy night setting and the flickering lamplight creating the appropriate mood.
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Chapter 2 - Hahakigi was created by Maeda Masao (前田政雄).
Chapter 2 - Hahakigi depicts figures, bijin-ga, and rain.
