The Ise Virgin's Visit (Episode 69) from the "Tales of Ise" (Ise monogatari) Late 16th to early 17th century

Curator: At the Harvard Art Museums, we're viewing "The Ise Virgin's Visit," episode 69 from "Tales of Ise," attributed to the Tosa School. Editor: It feels like a whispered secret, doesn't it? The stark lines create a world half-seen, like memory itself. Curator: Note the division, the diptych structure. The upper scene, a figure resting, contrasts sharply with the lower, where another ascends. A story unfolds through spatial arrangement. Editor: The angles, the architectural details—they create such a sense of longing. It’s a visual poem about separation and connection. Is that a garden outside, or just a dream? Curator: The composition draws the eye, certainly. The interplay between the figures, their gestures, contribute to the narrative tension within these dimensions. Editor: Right, and that tension, it’s exquisite. What a delicate balance between what's revealed and what remains hidden. Thank you for revealing this!