Folktales: into the woods
Cover illustration for a collection of Japanese folktales. This image was based on ‘The Beautiful Dancer Of Yedo’ This particular story is melancholic, a skilful geisha called Sakura-ki (Flower Of The Cherry), performing for the gentlemen of Yedo......happy on the outside as she dances in bright silks and pours their sake, but her demise is internal as she forever hides her true heart behind the mask. Sad, riveting stuff.
““But Sakura-ko looked down and mused and said, “Little narrow street of the geisha, paved with bitterness and broken hearts, your houses are full of vain hopes and vain regrets; youth and love and grief dwell here. The flowers in your gardens are watered with tears.””
