Art Institute of Chicago

The Tale of Genji

Artist Unknown

Date

Early 17th century

Medium

Pair of six-panel screens; ink, colors, and gold on paper

Culture

Japan

Department

Arts of Asia

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

This pair of folding screens depicts a few scenes from The Tale of Genji, a long novel written in the 11th century by the court lady Murasaki Shikibu. Even though they take place at different times in the story, the selected episodes are set in one continuous landscape. On the far right, the baby Genji is presented to his father, the emperor, for the first time. Across the bottom of the left screen, court ladies argue about which season is the most beautiful. Above, in the upper left corner, Genji and his love, Lady Murasaki, share an intimate moment in front of a charcoal brazier. The painter may have chosen these scenes fo their felicitous overtones. The overall character of the screens suggests that they were intended to be part of a bride’s wedding trousseau, which would accompany her to her new home.

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