Tale of Furisode － Left

This work takes its title from a story. A furisode is a type of kimono worn by girls and unmarried women. In the fictional Tale of Furisode, one day, the eyes of a handsome young attendant of a lord and the eyes of girl met. At first sight, she fell in love. Since they could not meet, she had a kimono made with the same pattern as the one she saw him wearing. Wearing this kimono, she wasted away with love sickness and died. This heirloom kimono was kept and later worn by three young women. One after the other, each of them died. Because it was suspected that the kimono was cursed, it was taken to a temple to be disposed of in a fire rite. When it was set on fire, fanned by the wind, the flames spread to the temple buildings, and then beyond. The resulting fire burned down about two thirds of Edo, including parts of the shogun’s castle. Such a fire actually occurred in 1657, during the Meireki era. It is known as the Great Fire of Meireki or, as some prefer, the Furisode Fire. Standing disdainfully on the left screen, a crimson furisode draped over his shoulders, is the cruel page boy who, with one look, bewitched the girl and caused her death. The approaching flames symbolize a conflagration. They may also represent his fate to burn in the fires of hell. On the right, three girls sadly watch. They are the ones who also wore the kimono. Standing in a peaceful world, symbolized by scattered lotus petals, they still ache with unrequited love. Yamakawa Shūhō is another painter who studied under Kaburaki Kiyokata. This work is an early masterpiece. These dramatic images, with their vivid contrasts of colors, announced the arrival of a young artist who was to leave a lasting impression on the art world.