The Imperial Progress (Miyuki), Calligraphic Excerpt from Chapter 29 of the Tale of Genji (Genji monogatari) c. 1509 - 1510

Curator: This piece presents a calligraphic excerpt from Chapter 29 of the Tale of Genji, titled "The Imperial Progress." The artist is Reizei Tamehiro, and the work is part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: The warm, textured ground seems to invite contemplation, although the precise strokes do also seem a little alienating. Curator: The materiality is key here. Consider the handmade paper, the specific ink, and Tamehiro's practiced hand. These elements speak to the art of production and its social context. This wasn't mass-produced; it's a singular, crafted object. Editor: Absolutely. And how does its placement within the Tale of Genji impact our reading? "The Imperial Progress" suggests hierarchy and power dynamics, concepts we can analyze through gender, class, and political lenses within the court. Curator: Precisely. It highlights the ways in which aesthetics and social structures intersect. Editor: It all just underscores how even seemingly simple artwork can contain layers of historical and social meaning. Curator: Indeed, it is through the careful consideration of both the material and its context that we fully appreciate such a piece.