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

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