Published 1887, Morning Glory (#18) belongs to Comparison of Beautiful Women and Flowers (Bijin Hana Kurabe). This series pairs women with flowers, drawing on the established bijin tradition while using botanical and seasonal motifs to suggest mood, age, refinement, or personal character. The comparison is poetic rather than simply decorative.

The title identifies the design’s particular figure, episode, object, or place, anchoring Gekkō’s composition in a larger network of historical narrative and cultural association. The catalog identifies flowers and women among the principal motifs. Gekkō uses their relationship to clarify action, season, setting, and narrative emphasis rather than treating them as interchangeable decoration.

Gekkō’s print style is noted for painterly contours, soft color transitions, and reserved paper, effects achieved through the collaborative disciplines of block carving and hand printing.

Additional information

Editions

First Edition

Publisher

Matsuki Heikichi

Size

Oban

Subjects

flowers, women

Year Published

1887

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