Who painted Scene from the Tale of the Wisteria Robe?

Scene from the Tale of the Wisteria Robe was painted by Unknown in 1404.

Where can I see Scene from the Tale of the Wisteria Robe?

Scene from the Tale of the Wisteria Robe is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Scene from the Tale of the Wisteria Robe?

Scene from the Tale of the Wisteria Robe is associated with Joseon dynasty painting.

Artwork

Scene from the Tale of the Wisteria Robe

Unknown , 1404

Scene from the Tale of the Wisteria Robe is an unspecified painting by the Joseon dynasty painting artist Unknown. It dates from 1404 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 1985.132
Credit line: John L. Severance Fund

About this work

You see a long, narrow scroll with people in flowing robes talking behind sliding doors.

You see a long, narrow scroll with people in flowing robes talking behind sliding doors. Tiny numbers float above their heads, like speech bubbles in a comic.

This is a piece of a bigger story, The Tale of the Wisteria Robe. The numbers tell you who speaks first, second, third. It’s like reading a play where the pictures come before the words. The scent of the robe itself is part of the tale, though you can’t smell it here.

Look up Japan, Muromachi period (1392–1573) to see more scrolls like this.

Overview

This painting is a fragment from a two-scroll set illustrating The Tale of the Wisteria Robe, a narrative of a noble's family and spiritual journey, distinguished by a robe with a notable scent.

Subject & Meaning

The depicted scene shows multiple figures in private conversation within partitioned chambers, conveying intimate interactions. The narrative emphasizes the significance of a wisteria-scented robe within the broader family and spiritual themes.

Technique & Style

The work features flowing robes on characters, sliding door dividers, and innovative numerical notations above speakers, guiding the sequence of dialogue, a precursor to modern comic strip conventions.

History & Provenance

Created during Japan's Muromachi period (1392–1573), this piece is characteristic of the era's scroll paintings that combined imagery with preceding textual passages.

Context

Viewers are encouraged to explore more Muromachi period scrolls for similar artistic and narrative styles, highlighting the period's emphasis on illustrated storytelling.

Legacy

This fragment influences the understanding of medieval Japanese storytelling techniques, blending visual and textual elements in a linear narrative format.