Thoroughwort Flowers (Fujibakama), Illustration to Chapter 30 of the Tale of Genji (Genji monogatari) c. 1509 - 1510

Editor: This illustration by Tosa Mitsunobu, "Thoroughwort Flowers," depicts a scene from "The Tale of Genji." It's fascinating how the artist uses these angular perspectives. What stands out to you, looking at the work's creation? Curator: The very materiality is revealing. Consider the labor embedded in producing the pigments, the paper, and the application of gold leaf. The lattice screens, precisely rendered, indicate a society structured by rigid social divisions. What does the meticulous execution of these details suggest about artistic patronage and consumption in this period? Editor: So you're saying the materials and even the rendering of the screens are saying something about class? I never would have considered that so directly. Curator: Precisely. And the very act of depicting such refined leisure is telling. How does examining the materials and techniques used alter our understanding of the narrative itself? Editor: This makes me see how much the physical creation of the art contributes to its meaning, which is so often overlooked. Curator: Exactly. It's about bringing the social context into the conversation.