Genji Excursion to Enoshima Island

This woodblock print depicts two richly-dressed Japanese courtesans conversing by the edge of a bay. It was produced by the Japanese woodblock artist Toyohara Kunichika, carved by Mi no and published by Kiya Sojiro in Tokyo, Japan, in October 1863. It is the left panel of an original triptych; a work of art comprised of three distinct panels, titled 'Genji excursion to Enoshima Island' (Genji no kimi Enoshima Yuran no Zu).In this image, two female courtesans are seen seated on what appears to be a short pier at the edge of the bay with lanterns hanging in a tree above them. In the full composition, including the central and right panels of the triptych, Genji travels to Enoshima Island (Kanagawa prefecture) with attendants, with the Izu Peninsula (Shizuoka Prefecture) visible in the background of the right panel.