The Battle of Yashima [left of a pair of Scenes from The Tale of the Heike] c. mid 17th century

Editor: So, here we have a section of a Japanese painted screen called *The Battle of Yashima,* from around the mid-17th century, attributed to the Tosa School. It’s done with ink and watercolor on what looks like gold leaf. All the little figures battling across this gilded landscape… It almost looks celebratory rather than mournful. What should viewers take away from a piece like this? Curator: Celebration isn’t necessarily inaccurate. Consider the sociopolitical landscape. Who would commission such a work, and why? Remembering that this depicts a key event from The Tale of the Heike – a foundational epic recounting the Genpei War – allows us to ask how the artist and their patrons used historical narrative. Are they seeking to legitimize a particular clan or champion certain values through this heroic retelling? What kind of gender and power dynamics are visible here? Editor: You mean, like how the individual warriors are presented? It’s hard to tell much about them as individuals. Curator: Exactly! Are they romanticized, heroic figures, or more like cogs in a machine? Also, notice the strategic deployment of empty gold space alongside areas of intense detail. How might that be playing into a larger symbolic understanding of power, absence, and presence? Consider the gendered and racial implications related to visibility/invisibility within Japan during the Edo period, especially when thinking about class and wealth. Editor: That's fascinating. So you're saying it’s not just about what's shown, but also what's intentionally left out or emphasized through composition that tells us more. The economics and history behind a scene like this really can change your view of it. Curator: Precisely! And questioning those choices allows us to connect it to larger conversations about history painting, national identity, and cultural memory. Thinking critically allows for deeper analysis, in this case concerning wealth, power and visibility. Editor: Thanks, that's given me a lot to consider! Curator: Absolutely. This painting serves as an exciting entry point for these crucial dialogues.