The Maiden of the Bridge (Hashihime), Illustration to Chapter 45 of the Tale of Genji (Genji monogatari)

The Maiden of the Bridge (Hashihime), Illustration to Chapter 45 of the Tale of Genji

The Maiden of the Bridge (Hashihime) 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 (Genji monogatari), a classic of Japanese literature written by Murasaki Shikibu in the early 11th century. The painting is executed in ink and color on paper, a technique characteristic of the Tosa school, which Mitsunobu founded. The Tosa school is known for its refined and delicate style, often focusing on courtly themes and narratives from classical literature. Mitsunobu's work played a significant role in the preservation and interpretation of Japanese literary classics through visual art. His illustrations are valued for their ability to convey the emotional depth and cultural context of the stories they depict.

"The Maiden of the Bridge (Hashihime), Illustration to Chapter 45 of the Tale of Genji (Genji monogatari)" by Tosa Mitsunobu is a classic example of Japanese yamato-e style, characterized by its delicate use of ink and color on paper to depict scenes from the Heian period literary masterpiece. The artwork captures the ethereal and narrative-driven essence of the Tale of Genji, focusing on the emotional and atmospheric elements of the story's 45th chapter.