29. The Yugao chapter from “The Tale of Genji” (Genji yugao maki)

The ghost of Yugao, one of Prince Genji's conquests, floats above a trailing vine bearing the moonflowers (yugao) after which she is named. Yugao died at the age of 19 during a secretive romantic night with Genji, supposedly cursed by the ghost of a jealous rival. This stunning design was known in Europe, and has no doubt influenced the Art Nouveau movement. (printed March 1886.)