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Gengi Story Album

Kiritsubo

	Object Type	17th Century Japanese Album
	Artist	Unknown
	Period	Edo
	Materials	Color on Silk
	Creation Date	ca. 1680
	Dimensions	13.2 cm. x 13.4 cm. (5 1/4 in. x 5 1/4 in.)

Commentary

The "Tale of Genji" was an 11th century novel written by Lady Murasaki which became the cornerstone of Tosa painting or, in other words, paintings for the Court. The book is written in fifty-five chapters and each chapter is illustrated in this album. There were many albums painted, and they are highly prized by collectors. - JDP Among the complete set of 54 leaves, shown here are chapters from "Tamakazura," "Miotsukushi," "Nowaki," "Asagao," "Hashihime," and "Wakamurasaki." Many Genji albums were produced during the Edo period, and many are extant, but it is rare that the complete set of 54 leaves are intact. The shikishi format from the Edo period was the smallest in size among such formats, and the technique applied was "minutely detailed" miniature painting with emphasis on Genjigumo (gold clouds). Usually included in the compositions were seasonal events with characters in elegant Heian costumes. The format of Genji-e using shikishi was originally formulated by the Tosa school during the sixteenth century. During the Edo period the selections of subjects from the 54 chapters were standardized and paintings became explanatory and intellectualised, thus artistic elements were lost in some aspects. The significant characteristic of this Genji-e set is the inclusion of seasonal scenes in more than half of the set, which are not intellectually analyzed. Waves, plum, cherry, pain, and maple trees, and autumn grasses are all painted in decorative Rimpa style with thick pigments. However, a special thorough attention is paid to the design patterns of costumes and the room furniture to emulate the Heian tastes, which reflects the inquisitive spirits of the Edo period. The artist is from the Rimpa school and the date is probably from the end of the seventeenth to the early eighteenth centuries. (Shirahata)