Returned to lender The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.
“A Boat Cast Adrift” (Ukifune), from Collection of Ancient Chinese and Japanese Stories (Wakan koji setsuwa zu)
Iwasa Matabei Japanese
Not on view
The painting shown here was inspired by the memorable episode from Chapter 51, “A Boat Cast Adrift,” in which on a snowy day, Niou secretly brings Ukifune to a secluded mansion on the Uji River. On the way, he swears his unchanging love, comparing it with the evergreen mandarin orange tree (Citrus tachibana) growing on a small island in the river. This work was originally part of a handscroll with twelve paintings treating subjects from ancient Chinese and Japanese legend and literature, three with Japanese themes that depict poignant episodes from Genji. Iwasa Matabei no doubt chose the scenes because they incorporate a dimension of psychological suggestiveness, which became a trademark of his distinctive painting style.
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