Incense That Revives the Image of the Dead - Lady Li 1765

This is "Incense That Revives the Image of the Dead - Lady Li," a delicate woodblock print created by Komatsuya Hyakki in the 18th century. The composition is dominated by the figure of Lady Li, her form a study in elegant curves and soft colors. Notice how Hyakki uses a muted palette of yellows, reds, and creams to evoke a sense of serene melancholy. The intricate patterns on her robe and fan are not merely decorative; they are signs, visual cues that speak to her status and the cultural milieu in which she exists. The flowing lines of her garments contrast with the static, almost mask-like quality of her face, creating a tension between movement and stillness. This tension invites us to consider the role of representation itself. Is this Lady Li as she was, or as she is remembered? The incense, a symbol of memory and ritual, suggests that the image we see is a construction, a carefully crafted representation of a lost presence. The print challenges the idea of a fixed, knowable subject, inviting instead a fluid and evocative encounter with the past.