Prince Shōtoku at Age Sixteen 1336 - 1392

Toba Sōjō painted this image of Prince Shōtoku at Age Sixteen on silk, sometime in the 12th century. The silk provides a subtle, absorbent ground, allowing the mineral pigments and ink to create a soft, luminous effect, which we can still observe, despite the piece’s age. The artist would have painstakingly applied thin layers of pigment, building up color and detail gradually, giving the prince a lifelike presence. Silk was a precious commodity, so its use here underscores the importance of the subject. The fine, even weave also speaks to the highly skilled labor required to produce such material, the threads spun and woven by practiced hands. Mounted as a hanging scroll, the painting would have been displayed on special occasions, perhaps in a temple or private home. This format allows for both intimate viewing and public veneration. Consider the materials and processes involved in its creation – silk production, pigment preparation, and the artist's skilled hand – and we can appreciate this not just as a picture, but as an object imbued with cultural and social significance.