Artwork

秋夜長物語|A Long Tale for an Autumn Night (Aki no yo nagamonogatari)

秋夜長物語|A Long Tale for an Autumn Night (Aki no yo nagamonogatari) is an ink painting. It dates from 1400 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The anonymous artist used ink, color, and gold on paper to render this scene, which survives as the second handscroll in a set of three.

The work depicts a scene featuring a solitary man accompanied by a bow and arrow and a sword. As a Japanese handscroll created around 1400, the imagery focuses on these martial elements within a natural setting; the inclusion of the bow and arrow alongside the sword suggests a context of travel or martial readiness for the figure portrayed. While the title "A Long Tale for an Autumn Night" implies a narrative connection to seasonal storytelling, the visual iconography is defined by the male figure and his weaponry.

The anonymous artist used ink, color, and gold on paper to render this scene, which survives as the second handscroll in a set of three.

Technique & Style

The work is a handscroll, a traditional Japanese support, produced around 1400 with ink, color pigments, and gold leaf applied to paper. Executed by an anonymous hand, it portrays a bow and arrow, a figure, and a sword within a scenic setting. The delicate brushwork and gold accents demonstrate refined technique. The piece, catalogued as accession number 2002.459.2, is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection.

History & Provenance

A Long Tale for an Autumn Night (Aki no yo nagamonogatari) is a Japanese handscroll created circa 1400 by an anonymous artist. The work, executed in ink, color, and gold on paper, survives as the second scroll of a three-part set. It was produced in Japan during the early fifteenth century, though the specific patron or commissioning context remains unidentified in available records.

Its modern provenance traces to the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is catalogued under accession number 2002.459.2. As an anonymous work, no attribution to a specific master exists. The piece depicts a figure with a bow and a sword within a scenic setting, consistent with the visual traditions of its era.

Overview

A Long Tale for an Autumn Night (Aki no yo nagamonogatari), Handscroll 2, is a Japanese painting executed with ink, color, and gold on paper. This work is one component of a three-scroll series. It illustrates a scene featuring men situated within a landscape, equipped with traditional weaponry such as swords and a bow and arrow, hinting at a narrative theme.

Context

The artistic approach seen in this handscroll aligns with established practices in Japanese painting. The use of gold on paper, for instance, was a prevalent technique, indicating its integration into a broader artistic tradition. This method allowed for a range of expressive possibilities, connecting this work to a lineage of artists who explored similar material applications to convey narrative and aesthetic qualities.