Scenes from The Tale of Genji

Tosa School Japanese
early 17th century
Not on view
These elegant and richly colored Tale of Genji illustrations are stylistically and compositionally close to the refined, almost miniaturist album-leaf paintings by Tosa Mitsuyoshi (1539–1613) and his Tosa school successor, Mitsunori (1583–1638). Although slightly less delicate and gossamer in quality than the album paintings of either, the scenes created by this unknown artist exhibit a similar attention to minute detail, highlighted in these albums by layers of mineral pigments and the application of gold and sprinkled gold. Each of the tale’s fifty-four chapters is represented by an illustration. Although devoid of titles or other inscriptions, standardized compositions allow the viewer to identify the chapters, characters, and events depicted.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • 土佐派 『源氏物語』画帖
  • Title: Scenes from The Tale of Genji
  • Artist: Tosa School
  • Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
  • Date: early 17th century
  • Culture: Japan
  • Medium:

    Pair of albums (accordion fold) with 54 illustrations; ink, color and gold on paper

  • Dimensions: Album: 8 9/16 × 7 7/8 × 2 1/2 in. (21.8 × 20 × 6.3 cm)
    Image (each leaf): 5 13/16 × 5 1/8 in. (14.7 × 13 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: Mary Griggs Burke Collection, Gift of the Mary and Jackson Burke Foundation, 2015
  • Object Number: 2015.300.35a, b
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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