Portraits of Three Famous Poets: Hitomaro (M) ・Ise (R) ・Komachi (L) 1691

Editor: This is a striking set of painted scrolls entitled "Portraits of Three Famous Poets: Hitomaro, Ise, Komachi," created in 1691 by Tosa Mitsuoki. There's such a quiet, contemplative atmosphere...What underlying stories or significance do you see in these portraits? Curator: The triptych format itself speaks volumes, doesn't it? By arranging Hitomaro, Ise, and Komachi in a row, Mitsuoki creates an immediate association between them – but these figures are also deliberately positioned. They are enshrined archetypes more so than real historical figures, almost icons in their own right. Look at the subtle detailing of the faces—the artist aimed for capturing inner essence rather than likeness, don’t you think? Editor: I do. It’s like he's portraying the idea of a poet rather than an individual poet. What do the backgrounds tell us, though? They’re so minimal. Curator: Exactly. The backgrounds become fields for the projection of the viewer’s imagination, acting like settings for a memory play that has no clear set, allowing focus only on the central symbolic figure. Their careful rendering suggests not just place, but a whole system of artistic tradition and memory contained within each figure. We have architecture, landscape, and nothing to signify these figures as male or female, as separate entities beyond an idea. Do you see these scrolls more as images that record or instruct? Editor: That's interesting. Definitely more like instructors. There’s a timeless quality about them, like they’re meant to embody poetry itself across generations. It makes you wonder about the staying power of images and ideas, how they get reinterpreted. Curator: Precisely. Cultural memory distilled into visual form, inviting us to reflect on the enduring power of artistry and cultural emblems across time.