Forty-nine scenes from the Tales of Ise 1634 - 1666

Satomura Genchin created this screen, "Forty-nine scenes from the Tales of Ise," in the Edo period, using ink, color, and gold leaf on paper. Genchin lived during a time when Japan's cultural identity was being shaped by both internal social dynamics and external influences. The Tales of Ise is a collection of poems and narratives, traditionally associated with the courtier-poet Ariwara no Narihira. In Genchin's depiction, we see how the artist balances classical themes with the aesthetic preferences of his own time. Note how the visual and poetic elements are interwoven, as the artist highlights the refined tastes of the aristocratic class. The choice of gold leaf suggests a patron of considerable wealth and status, reflecting the socio-economic structures of Edo-period Japan. This screen serves as a reminder of how cultural narratives are continuously reinterpreted across generations.