The Pink (Tokonatsu), Calligraphic Excerpt from Chapter 26 of the Tale of Genji (Genji monogatari) c. 1509 - 1510

Curator: The Harvard Art Museums hold this intriguing piece, "The Pink (Tokonatsu)," a calligraphic excerpt by Konoe Hisamichi from Chapter 26 of *The Tale of Genji*. Editor: It has such a warm, inviting aura. The orange-red background seems to glow, and the script dances across the surface. Curator: Hisamichi was a master calligrapher; his work reflects the cultural refinement of the Japanese court. The *Tale of Genji* itself is a cornerstone of Japanese literature. Editor: Notice the delicate details, those dragon patterns along the edges, framing the text. What emotions or themes do you think they invoke alongside the text? Curator: It suggests a deliberate choice of imagery reflecting the courtly setting and the elevated status of both the text and the act of calligraphy itself. A visual echo of the tale's sophistication. Editor: Indeed. The work feels like an echo of a forgotten world. Curator: Precisely; it bridges past and present.