The Green Branch (Sakaki), Illustration to Chapter 10 of the Tale of Genji (Genji monogatari)

The Green Branch (Sakaki), Illustration to Chapter 10 of the Tale of Genji

The Green Branch (Sakaki) is an illustration attributed to Tosa Mitsunobu, a prominent Japanese painter of the late 15th and early 16th centuries. This work is part of a series illustrating the Tale of Genji, a classic of Japanese literature written by Murasaki Shikibu in the early 11th century. The painting employs ink and color on paper, a traditional medium that allows for delicate and expressive brushwork. Tosa Mitsunobu is known for his role in establishing the Tosa school, which specialized in yamato-e, a style of Japanese painting that emphasizes native themes and aesthetics. The illustration captures the refined courtly life depicted in the Tale of Genji, reflecting the cultural and artistic values of the Heian period. Mitsunobu's work is significant for its contribution to the preservation and interpretation of classical Japanese literature through visual art.

"The Green Branch (Sakaki), Illustration to Chapter 10 of the Tale of Genji" by Tosa Mitsunobu is an exquisite example of Japanese yamato-e style, characterized by its delicate use of ink and color on paper to depict scenes from the classic literary work, "The Tale of Genji." The artwork captures the refined aesthetics and narrative depth of the Heian period, illustrating the cultural and artistic values of the time.