Whose Sleeves? (Tagasode)
The suggestive title of this type of screen—“Whose Sleeves?,” or Tagasode—points to its provocative nature. The viewer is invited to speculate over who owns these gorgeous robes. Such screens omit human figures and represent only the robes, personal accessories, and furniture of the owners. However, even if a garment of a particular period is accurately depicted on the screen it may not be synchronous with the painting’s date of production.
The phrase “Whose Sleeves?” is found in classical love poems and was not commonly used to refer to this type of screen until the late nineteenth century. Yet, by the early seventeenth century, representations of clothing stands (ikō-zu) with lavish garments appear in painted handscrolls and woodblock-printed books. Similar compositions were also published in etiquette books for women as guides for how to display garments that were part of their dowry. Actual garments draped over stands could serve as space dividers or interior decoration in premodern Japan, and “Whose Sleeves?” screens could have been used in the same way.
The phrase “Whose Sleeves?” is found in classical love poems and was not commonly used to refer to this type of screen until the late nineteenth century. Yet, by the early seventeenth century, representations of clothing stands (ikō-zu) with lavish garments appear in painted handscrolls and woodblock-printed books. Similar compositions were also published in etiquette books for women as guides for how to display garments that were part of their dowry. Actual garments draped over stands could serve as space dividers or interior decoration in premodern Japan, and “Whose Sleeves?” screens could have been used in the same way.
Artwork Details
- 誰が袖図屏風
- Title: Whose Sleeves? (Tagasode)
- Period: Momoyama (1573–1615)–Edo period 1615–1868)
- Date: (right screen) late 16th–early 17th century; (left screen) early to mid-17th century
- Culture: Japan
- Medium: Pair of six-panel folding screens; ink, color, and gold on gilt paper
- Dimensions: each screen: 57 1/16 in. × 11 ft. 4 9/16 in. (144.9 × 346.8 cm)
- Classification: Paintings
- Credit Line: H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929
- Object Number: 29.100.493, .494
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
Audio
8895. Whose Sleeves? (Tagasode)
0:00
0:00
We're sorry, the transcript for this audio track is not available at this time. Please email info@metmuseum.org to request a transcript for this track.
More Artwork
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.