Scene from chapter 12 c. mid 17th century

hanging-scroll, ink, color-on-paper

toned paper

water colours

japan

possibly oil pastel

handmade artwork painting

oil painting

hanging-scroll

ink

color-on-paper

underpainting

painting painterly

watercolour bleed

watercolour illustration

watercolor

This handscroll by Taketsugu from the mid-17th century depicts a scene from chapter 12 of the "Tale of Genji," a classic work of Japanese literature. The scroll, which measures 30 1/2 × 18 1/2 inches, features a delicate rendering of figures in a landscape setting, showcasing the artist's skill in capturing the subtle beauty of Japanese aesthetics. The painting, housed at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, offers viewers a glimpse into the world of classical Japanese literature and art, with its intricate details and graceful lines.

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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.”