Scenes from the Tales of Isemid-1600s · Study 1969.127

Context from the museum

While the 11th century Tale of Genji is universally regarded as Japan's literary masterpiece, the source for visual imagery in Japanese culture is rivaled by another literary classic, the Tales of Ise . A 10th century anthology of poems interspersed with commentary, the Ise portrays the emotional and geographical journey of a courtier from the capital (Kyoto) into the countryside and beyond. The poems describe features of the natural, untamed terrain, linking them to the rather melancholy state of the traveler. Since the Tales of Ise was—and remains today—well read by educated Japanese, a person viewing these folding screens would immediately recognize its subject, organized as a series of discrete scenes read from right to left. Neither a signature nor a seal identifies the artist, but judging from related paintings, the work can be ascribed to an artist working in Kyoto during the first quarter of the 17th century in the manner of the painter Iwasa Matabei (1578–1650). This type of historical narrative composition became quite popular around 1600 among patrons favoring a distinctly Japanese style of painting which employed rich mineral pigments and a liberal use of gold.

Museum description reproduced from its CC0 open-access record. Read the original catalog entry.

A detail to notice

Scenes appear amid golden clouds augmented by raised designs formed of a pigment made from crushed shells ( gofun ). The technique is called moriage , literally “mounding” the pigment.

Observation supplied by the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Read the dimensions before the image

The selected painting only measurement for Scenes from the Tales of Ise is 276 cm wide and 95.2 cm high, equivalent to approximately 108.7 × 37.5 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 2.90:1. The rectangular bounding area is 2.63 square meters; it describes the measured footprint, not the amount of paint or the monetary value.

On an illustrative 300 cm wall, the recorded width occupies 92.0% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 12.0 cm on each side before adding a frame. These are calculations by Physical Art For Crypto using museum measurements. They are not the museum’s display recommendations.

Questions to bring to your own collection

With Scenes from the Tales of Ise in view, identify one feature you can point to, then distinguish what the museum records from your personal response. Keep its medium, Pair of six-panel folding screens; ink, color, and gold on gilded paper, in your notes when comparing contemporary works.

• Which part of this horizontal composition catches your eye first?
• Would a 276 cm width still suit the space after allowing for furniture and a frame?
• What surface detail would you need to see in person or in a close photograph?