Artwork preview

“Leaves of Wild Ginger” (Aoi), from the Phantom Genji Scrolls (Maboroshi no Genji monogatari emaki)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

A horizontal rectangular painting on a gold background, likely emaki-style. The top left features white fabric with black lines. Five people sit on the floor, four with white kimonos and one in a blue kimono. On the right side at the top, a group of people in variously colored kimonos are standing and sitting. In the center-left, a map-like object with a green top and red bottom displays a city or town. The bottom half contains numerous people sitting and standing; some wear kimonos in various colors, while others are dressed in white. Many people have black hair. The bottom features people sitting on the floor; some wear black, gray, and white clothing. A person in a red kimono with a blue-gray headscarf stands on the right side. The background is gold with some lighter areas resembling clouds.

Artwork Details

Date
mid-17th century
Medium
Handscroll; ink, color, and gold on paper
Culture
Japan
Dimensions
600 × 450 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette