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Scenes and Calligraphic Excerpts from The Tale of Genji

Tosa School Japanese
Inscriptions by Ono no Ozū (Ono no Tsū) Japanese
early 17th century
Not on view
The work of Ono no Ozū, one of the most prominent women calligraphers of premodern Japan, graces decorated shikishi (poetry cards) in this pair of albums featuring scenes from The Tale of Genji by an unknown Tosa-school painter. The paintings were formerly attributed to Tosa Mitsuyoshi (1539–1613), associated with a colorful style and detailed brushwork. In the two chapters from Genji presented here, Ozū transformed canonical poems into novel calligraphic compositions.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • 土佐派筆　小野お通書　源氏物語画帖
  • Title: Scenes and Calligraphic Excerpts from The Tale of Genji
  • Artist: Tosa School
  • Artist: Inscriptions by Ono no Ozū (Ono no Tsū) (Japanese, 1567–1631)
  • Period: Momoyama (1573–1615)
  • Date: early 17th century
  • Culture: Japan
  • Medium: Shikishi (poetry cards) mounted in an orihon album; calligraphies: ink on decorated paper; paintings: ink, color, and gold on paper
  • Dimensions: Two leaves spread: 11 5/8 × 21 1/4 in. (29.5 × 54 cm)
    Each sheet: 8 7/8 × 7 13/16 in. (22.5 × 19.8 cm)
    Each leaf: 11 5/8 × 10 5/8 in. (29.5 × 27 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: Mary and Cheney Cowles Collection, Gift of Mary and Cheney Cowles, 2018
  • Object Number: 2018.853.39a, b
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
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Collection of Pictures, Tosa School Japanese, Ink on paper, Japan
Collection of Pictures
Tosa School
Scene from The Tale of Genji: Chapter 4, "Evening Face" (Yūgao), Tosa School Japanese, Matted painting; ink and color on silk, Japan
Scene from The Tale of Genji: Chapter 4, "Evening Face" (Yūgao)
Tosa School
17th century
Scenes from Tales of Ise (Ise monogatari), Tosa School Japanese, Set of album leaf paintings; ink and color on paper (shikishi), Japan
Scenes from Tales of Ise (Ise monogatari)
Tosa School
late 18th century
Scenes from the Tales of Ise (Ise monogatari), Tosa School Japanese, Set of album leaf paintings; ink and color on paper (shikishi), Japan
Scenes from the Tales of Ise (Ise monogatari)
Tosa School
late 18th century
Nine Scenes from The Tale of Genji and An Aviary (Genji monogatari zu byōbu; Toriya zu byōbu), Tosa School Japanese, Pair of six-panel folding screens; ink, color, and gold on paper, Japan
Returned to lender
Nine Scenes from The Tale of Genji and An Aviary (Genji monogatari zu byōbu; Toriya zu byōbu)
Tosa School
early 17th century

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