Red and White Tale of Genji by Okumura Masanobu

Red and White Tale of Genji 1709

ink-on-paper

aged paper

toned paper

book

sketch book

japan

ink-on-paper

personal sketchbook

coloured pencil

sketchbook drawing

watercolour illustration

storyboard and sketchbook work

sketchbook art

watercolor

"Red and White Tale of Genji" is a woodblock print book published in 1709 by Okumura Masanobu (1686-1764). It depicts scenes from the classic Japanese novel "The Tale of Genji," which tells the story of a prince and his romantic encounters. The book is a significant example of Edo period woodblock printmaking, known for its detailed illustrations and intricate designs. This particular edition is an exceptional example of Masanobu's skill in depicting the elegance and beauty of traditional Japanese culture, capturing the spirit of the renowned novel in a captivating visual form.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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By the early 1700s, when this printed version of The Tale of Genji was published, very few people could understand the complex written language in which the original tale had been written 700 years earlier. For this illustrated and modernized version of the tale, Okumura Masanobu wrote in a manner that reflected Japanese as it was spoken in the early 1700s. The text was rendered freely, placing emphasis on conveying the meaning rather than offering a verbatim presentation of the original tale.