Forty-nine scenes from the Tales of Ise 1634 - 1666

"Forty-nine Scenes from the Tales of Ise" is a six-panel screen by Japanese artist Satomura Genchin (1591-1665), created between 1634 and 1666. The artwork depicts scenes from the classic Japanese literary work "Tales of Ise," a collection of poems and prose narratives written in the early 10th century. The screen's panels are painted in ink and color on gold leaf, and each panel features a different scene from the tales. "Forty-nine Scenes from the Tales of Ise" exemplifies the Edo Period's (1603-1868) artistic interest in Japanese literature, as well as the period's heightened appreciation for traditional decorative arts. The screen is currently in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.