70 Fusatane Utagawa 1849 – 1889 Prince Genji Releasing a Crane

from the series Genji kachō fūgetsu no uchi (“Genji: Flowers, Birds, Wind, and Moon”)
publisher: Tsujiokaya Bunsuke

The triptych from the series Genji kachō fūgetsu no uchi depicts a scene titled Tori (“Bird”). On the seashore, the noble Prince Genji releases a crane into the open sky — a symbol of happiness and longevity. The series  represents the four seasons and at the same time alludes to an ancient tale of two clairvoyant beauties, Kachō and Fūgetsu, here likely personified alongside Prince Genji. The motif thus merges the aesthetics of seasonal change with literary tradition and the aristocratic ideal of beauty. The composition unites the poetic grace of the figures and the decorative splendor of their garments with the majestic gesture of the crane’s outstretched wings above the sea. 

Fusatane — a pupil of Utagawa Kunisada — masterfully combines the bijin-ga genre with lyrical landscape elements, creating a visually captivating scene imbued with harmony and hope.