KIYONO YOZAN: A FINE SIX-PANEL ‘TALE OF GENJI’ BYOBU (FOLDING SCREEN)

拍品描述

KIYONO YOZAN: A FINE SIX-PANEL ‘TALE OF GENJI’ BYOBU (FOLDING SCREEN) By Kiyono Yozan (active c. 1690-1704), signed Yozan sho kore and seal Issei Japan, early 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Ink, watercolors, gouache, gold paint, and gold foil on paper. Mounted on six wood panels with gilt-metal fittings. Exquisitely painted with elegantly attired courtiers and courtesans within a refined palace complex, the scene opens onto a landscape framed by golden swirls of clouds. A few trees—including two pines, a blossoming cherry tree, and bushes with white flowers—dot the grounds, while a bird’s-eye view allows insight into the palace interiors. Inscriptions: To the left panel, signed 養山書之Yozan sho kore [Painted by Yozan] and seal 弌成 Issei (Kazunari). SIZE 170 x 370 cm The Tale of Genji captures the refined aesthetics of Heian court life, where aristocrats valued seasonal beauty and poetic sensitivity as measures of character and status. This screen painting reflects that world, with figures seated in a palace interior - partially opened to the landscape - contemplating flowering trees that echo the novel’s recurring themes of impermanence and longing. Just as in Genji, the architectural openness blurs the boundary between human emotion and the natural world, making nature a silent participant in the story of love and courtly life. Auction comparison: Compare a related pair of six-fold screens depicting scenes from the Tale of Genji, Edo period, dated 17th-18th century, size 94 x 270 cm, at Christie’s, Japanese and Korean Art, 23 March 2000, New York, lot 177 (sold for USD 29,900 or approx. EUR 50,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing).

图片