The Tale of Genji
Early 17th century
Medium
Pair of six-panel screens; ink, colors, and gold on paper
Dimensions
Each: 166 × 371 cm (65 3/8 × 146 1/8 in.)
Classification
screen
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
20198
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
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, Gen...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...