Irises at Yatsuhashi (Eight Bridges) 1710 - 1716

Curator: The irises just pop, don’t they? They almost feel… playful against that metallic backdrop. Editor: They certainly grab your attention. What we’re looking at is “Irises at Yatsuhashi (Eight Bridges)” rendered by Ogata Kōrin sometime between 1710 and 1716. It’s a six-panel folding screen, a byōbu, now residing at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The watercolor on gold leaf gives it such an incredible presence. Curator: Gold leaf—yes! It’s like the irises are performing on a shimmering stage. I'm thinking this has to do with "Yamato-e", I suppose the gold carries that spiritual nuance that elevates something simple and turns into a theatrical experience. Editor: Absolutely, the "Yamato-e" style roots it in Japanese aesthetics, focusing on Japanese subject matter while still taking a painterly approach. That repetition of irises, and their sharp blues and greens juxtaposed against the gold, strikes a certain chord, visually. It pulls at something primal. There is a strong geometric aspect that gives the whole scene a stylized structure... Curator: Primal is the perfect word. These colors, that contrast, are just electric! Like the sudden memory of that dream, everything comes crashing at you with all these rich, earthy colors in an instant, with such visual rhythm and such a great emotional presence! I’d love to see this same idea used in another type of context just to prove its symbolic and visual weight. Editor: I am not certain but some believe that Kōrin wasn’t simply depicting irises and a bridge. There are claims that his folding screen is actually a stylized interpretation of an episode from “The Tales of Ise” or “Ise Monogatari,” where the protagonist crosses a series of bridges amidst blooming irises, homesick and thinking about his wife. Curator: That makes the piece feel even more romantic—not just about a place, but a specific longing. The emotion, that constant yearning, distilled in those bright, unwavering blooms… and all those layers of context, creating such a strong impression, so lasting. Editor: It's amazing how symbols crystallize emotions through repeated usage in our visual memory and our narratives; and this work just reminds you of how continuity transcends eras.