unsigned; many different scenes from Genji, separated by trees, rivers, and silver clouds; from R: men and women in a building with verandah, with a man sitting on the verandah alone looking in with a flower in hand; group of women and performers wearing wings at LR; near center, men seated behind low black table holding meting; men and women outside; at L, people in a boat, and others inside building near screens painted with bamboo motif

Scenes from the Tale of Genji on Silver Ground [right of a pair], 18th century

expand_more
Not on Viewexpand_more

Many Japanese artists employed gold paint and gold leaf on folding screens; instead, the artist of this pair used silver leaf. Over time, silver leaf oxidizes and turns a smoky gray shade while retaining its metallic sheen. The screens present a selection of scenes from The Tale of Genji in no particular order. The upper middle of the left screen, for example, shows 12-year-old Genji at his coming-of-age ceremony. The courtier’s cap he will wear as an adult male rests on a low table before him. The scenes around him and in the right screen are from varying stages of his life.

file_downloadprintshare
arrow_back home
Details
Title
Scenes from the Tale of Genji on Silver Ground [right of a pair]
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2013.29.301.2
Curator Approved

This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.

Does something look wrong with this image? Let us know

Zoom in on the left to the detail you'd like to save. Click 'Save detail' and wait until the image updates. Right click the image to 'save image as' or copy link, or click the image to open in a new tab.

unsigned; many different scenes from Genji, separated by trees, rivers, and silver clouds; from R: men and women in a building with verandah, with a man sitting on the verandah alone looking in with a flower in hand; group of women and performers wearing wings at LR; near center, men seated behind low black table holding meting; men and women outside; at L, people in a boat, and others inside building near screens painted with bamboo motif