Scene from chapter 28 c. mid 17th century

hanging-scroll, ink, color-on-paper

toned paper

water colours

japan

possibly oil pastel

oil painting

hanging-scroll

ink

color-on-paper

coffee painting

underpainting

watercolour bleed

watercolour illustration

watercolor

warm toned green

This hanging scroll, "Scene from chapter 28," by Taketsugu, dates to the mid-17th century. The minimalist composition features two figures in flowing robes holding lanterns, set against a backdrop of a stylized pine tree and a glimpse of a building. The soft, pale washes of color and delicate lines are characteristic of Japanese painting of this period, suggesting a peaceful and contemplative scene. The scroll is a beautiful example of the *yamato-e* style, known for its graceful depiction of scenes from Japanese literature and history. It is now in the collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Art.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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These three scrolls each illustrate a single scene from The Tale of Genji. The left scroll probably represents chapter 12, in which Genji is exiled to the desolate shore of Suma Bay. The center scroll illustrates a scene in chapter 28, in which the empress’s ladies-in-waiting carry cages with cicadas into the garden to give the insects a sip of morning dew. The right scroll may depict chapter 14, in which Prince Genji travels to Naniwa Bay in an ox-pulled carriage. These three scrolls were originally panels of a six-panel folding screen that was reformatted at some point. The three companion panels are in the collection of the Detroit Institute of Arts. Nothing is known about the artist, whose large round red seal reads simply “Taketsugu.”