Genshōshichi, from the series Elegant Women's The Water Margin: From One Hundred and Eight Figures (Fuzoku onna Suikoden: Ippyaku-hachinin no uchi)
- Series:
- Elegant Women's Water Margin
- Date:
- c. 1828-1832
- Medium:
- Woodblock print (surimono); ink, color, and metallic pigments on paper
- Format:
- Oban
- Dimensions:
- 19.8 × 17.1 cm
- Source:
- Harvard Art Museums
Description
Genshoshichi appears in the luxury "Elegant Women's Water Margin" surimono series (c. 1828-32), where each of the 108 Suikoden heroes is reimagined as a fashionable Edo woman. The surimono format — metallic pigments, embossed paper, small edition — made these prints objects of refined collecting rather than mass-market consumption. Kuniyoshi's handling of the gender-swapped heroes in this series typically preserves one attribute of the original while otherwise surrendering entirely to bijin-ga convention, creating a productive visual tension.
More Prints by Utagawa Kuniyoshi
Woman as the Hero Taisō in Palanquin Holding a Pipe
c. 1830
Woodblock print (surimono), ink and color on paper
Yan Qing (Roshi Ensei), from the series "One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Water Margin (Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori)"
Poem by Abe no Nakamaro, from an untitled series of One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets
Hu Sanniang (Ko Sanjo Ichijosei), from the series "One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Water Margin (Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori)"
More Heroes & Warriors Prints
Saishin, from the series "Fashionable Women as the One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Water Margin (Fuzoku onna Suikoden, ippyakuhachinin no uchi)"
c. 1828/30
Color woodblock print; surimono
Oteiroku, from the series "Fashionable Women as the One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Water Margin (Fuzoku onna Suikoden, ippyakuhachinin no uchi)"
c. 1828/30
Color woodblock print; surimono
Rua Xiaoqi (Katsuenra Genshoshichi), from the series "One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Water Margin (Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori)"
c. 1827/30
Color woodblock print; oban
Yang Zhi (Seimenju Yoshi), from the series "One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Water Margin (Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori)"
c. 1827/30
Color woodblock print; oban
Featured in Collections
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Frequently Asked Questions
Genshōshichi, from the series Elegant Women's The Water Margin: From One Hundred and Eight Figures (Fuzoku onna Suikoden: Ippyaku-hachinin no uchi) was created by Utagawa Kuniyoshi (歌川国芳) in c. 1828-1832.
Yes — Genshōshichi, from the series Elegant Women's The Water Margin: From One Hundred and Eight Figures (Fuzoku onna Suikoden: Ippyaku-hachinin no uchi) is part of the Elegant Women's Water Margin series by Utagawa Kuniyoshi.
Genshōshichi, from the series Elegant Women's The Water Margin: From One Hundred and Eight Figures (Fuzoku onna Suikoden: Ippyaku-hachinin no uchi) depicts heroes & warriors, warriors, and suikoden (water margin).
Genshōshichi, from the series Elegant Women's The Water Margin: From One Hundred and Eight Figures (Fuzoku onna Suikoden: Ippyaku-hachinin no uchi) measures 19.8 × 17.1 cm (Oban format).