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Picture of Tamatori Hime at the Palace of the Dragon King

Picture of Tamatori Hime at the Palace of the Dragon King

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Utagawa Kuniyoshi

In legend, Princess Tamatori was a beautiful pearl diver who married Fujiwara no Fuhito, son of the founder of the powerful Fujiwara clan. They met in an isolated area while Fuhito was searching for a priceless pearl given to his father and stolen by the dragon king during a storm. Princess Tamatori bore a son, and full of love for him vowed to help recover the stolen pearl. She finally succeeded when the dragon and its grotesque guards were lulled asleep by music. She reclaimed the treasure, but the sea creatures woke and pursued her. She cut open her breast and placed the pearl inside for safekeeping, spilling blood that clouded the water and aided her escape. She died from the wound but is revered for her sacrifice. The legend of Princess Tamatori was a favorite subject for Kuniyoshi, who designed many verisions of the fantastic story.
Artist
Utagawa Kuniyoshi
(Japanese, 1798 - 1861)
Title
Picture of Tamatori Hime at the Palace of the Dragon King
Date
6/1853
Medium
Color woodcut
Dimensions
369 x 760 mm Overall
Credit
Bequest of John H. Van Vleck
Accession No.
1980.2692a-c
Classification
Prints
Geography
Japan

Related

By 1925, purchased in Japan by Frank Lloyd Wright; ca. 1926, acquired by The Bank of Wisconsin; 1928, sold to Edward Burr Van Vleck (Madison, WI); 1943, passed through inheritance to Edward’s son, John H. Van Vleck (Madison, WI); 9 January 1980, bequeathed by John H. Van Vleck to the Elvehjem Museum of Art [now called Chazen Museum of Art]

  • Mueller, Laura. "Competition and Collaboration: Japanese Prints of the Utagawa School." Leiden, The Netherlands: Hotei Publishing, 2007. p. 137, no. 116
  • Osumi, Takeshige, ed. "Edward Burr Van Vleck Collection Ukiyo-e Masterpieces Exhibition." Tokyo: Bun You Associates, 1999.
  • Elvehjem Museum of Art. "The Edward Burr Van Vleck Collection of Japanese Prints." Madison: Elvehjem Museum of Art, 1990. p. 265

  • Japanese Masterworks: Woodblock Prints from the Chazen Museum of Art Collection: Chazen Museum of Art, 5/6/2016–8/14/2016
  • Gifts of the Ebb Tide: The Sea in Japanese Prints: Chazen Museum of Art, 6/8/2013–9/1/2013
  • Edward Burr Van Vleck Collection: Elvehjem Museum of Art, 10/13/1999–6/30/2000
  • Docents Choice: Prints from the Permanent Collection: Elvehjem Museum of Art, 12/16/1995–2/25/1996
  • Van Vleck Collection of Japanese Prints, The: Elvehjem Museum of Art, 10/7/1990–11/25/1990
  • Calm Lives, Exuberant Pleasures : Outstanding Japanese Woodblock Prints from the Van Vleck Collection: Elvehjem Museum of Art, 3/31/1984–4/15/1984

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