Tales of Ise (Ise monogatari) Possibly 1608

Curator: The Harvard Art Museums hold this leaf from “Tales of Ise,” published by Suminokura Soan. It’s a woodblock print, one page displaying text, the other, an illustration. Editor: It looks like a stage set, almost theatrical, with the geometric planes of the building contrasting with those wispy clouds. Curator: Indeed! The Ise Monogatari was a popular anthology of poems and narratives, reflecting courtly life and aesthetic ideals. Publishing it broadened access to elite culture. Editor: I see visual symbols of transition - those stylized clouds could signify a shift in the narrative or emotional state. The glimpse into the inner space feels very intimate. Curator: Yes, the publication of works like this democratized access to artistic production. Editor: It's amazing how the artist could convey so much atmosphere and symbolism.