Who painted 伝俵屋宗達筆源氏物語図「宿木」 |“Trees Encoiled in Vines of Ivy” (Yadorigi)?

伝俵屋宗達筆源氏物語図「宿木」 |“Trees Encoiled in Vines of Ivy” (Yadorigi) was painted by Tawaraya Sōtatsu in early 17th century.

Where can I see 伝俵屋宗達筆源氏物語図「宿木」 |“Trees Encoiled in Vines of Ivy” (Yadorigi)?

伝俵屋宗達筆源氏物語図「宿木」 |“Trees Encoiled in Vines of Ivy” (Yadorigi) is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 伝俵屋宗達筆源氏物語図「宿木」 |“Trees Encoiled in Vines of Ivy” (Yadorigi)?

伝俵屋宗達筆源氏物語図「宿木」 |“Trees Encoiled in Vines of Ivy” (Yadorigi) is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

伝俵屋宗達筆源氏物語図「宿木」 |“Trees Encoiled in Vines of Ivy” (Yadorigi)

Tawaraya Sōtatsu , 1624

伝俵屋宗達筆源氏物語図「宿木」 |“Trees Encoiled in Vines of Ivy” (Yadorigi) is an ink painting by the Baroque artist Tawaraya Sōtatsu. It dates from 1624 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The presence of both male and female subjects alongside the bed establishes the focus on human interaction and repose within a defined architectural space.

Created in 1624, this hanging scroll illustrates a specific narrative moment featuring a man and a woman within an interior setting. The composition depicts figures resting on a bed, with one individual shown asleep. While the title references the "Yadorigi" (Ivy) chapter of The Tale of Genji, the visual iconography focuses on the intimate domestic arrangement of the sleeping figures and the bedding rather than external landscape elements.

The work functions as a genre painting capturing a quiet, private instance of rest, using ink, color, and gold on paper to render the scene. The presence of both male and female subjects alongside the bed establishes the focus on human interaction and repose within a defined architectural space.

Technique & Style

The work is executed as a hanging scroll using ink, color and gold leaf applied to paper. Its support is paper in the hanging-scroll format, measuring approximately 25.4 cm in height by 55.2 cm in width. Created in Japan in 1624, the piece employs gold to accentuate decorative motifs and to outline the stylized figures of a bed, a man, and a sleeping woman.

The combination of ink outlines, flat color washes, and gilt detailing reflects the ornamental aesthetic characteristic of Tawaraya Sōtatsu's workshop, emphasizing pattern and spatial flattening over naturalistic rendering.

History & Provenance

Created in 1624 in Japan, this hanging scroll is attributed to the artist Tawaraya Sōtatsu. The work, titled "Trees Encoiled in Vines of Ivy" (Yadorigi), serves as an illustration for the Tale of Genji. Executed using ink, color, and gold on paper, the piece measures approximately 25.4 by 55.2 centimeters.

While specific details regarding its original commission or early ownership chain are not provided in the available records, the painting is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The attribution to Sōtatsu is presented as traditional, indicated by the prefix "den" (transmitted) in Japanese records, linking the work to the artist active during the early seventeenth century.

Overview

Created in 1624, Tawaraya Sōtatsu's "Trees Encoiled in Vines of Ivy" (Yadorigi) is a hanging scroll rendered with ink, color, and gold on paper. This painting draws its subject from The Tale of Genji, depicting a quiet domestic scene. It exemplifies Sōtatsu's distinctive approach to classical Japanese narratives, integrating rich materials with a serene visual atmosphere.

Context

Tawaraya Sōtatsu was a prominent figure in early 17th-century Japanese art, recognized for his painting and design work, and a key artist of the Rinpa school. His career included significant collaborations with the calligrapher Hon'ami Kōetsu, and he was highly influential for his innovative folding screens. Sōtatsu's artistic contributions helped shape a distinctive aesthetic that emphasized decorative beauty and classical themes.

源氏物語画帖「玉鬘」|“A Lovely Garland” (Tamakazura), from The Tale of Genji, Tosa Mitsuyoshi

Artist & collection

Artist

Tawaraya Sōtatsu

Tawaraya Sōtatsu (俵屋宗達; c. 1570 – c. 1640) was a Japanese furniture designer and painter of the Rinpa school. Sōtatsu is best known for his decorations of calligraphic works by his partner Hon'ami Kōetsu (1558–1637),…