Folding Screen with Design of the Scenes from The Tale of Genji

The right screen depicts the parting scene in the ‘Usugumo’ scroll in which the Lady of Akashi decides to entrust her daughter to Genji. He wears a white hunting robe. To his right, Lady Akashi is tenderly touching her daughter. The left screen is a scene from ‘Hatsune.’ For the first time, Genji is celebrating the New Year at Rokujō-in mansion. He is reading a letter from the Lady of Akashi to his ward, her daughter. Between them you can see a gift from Lady Akashi to her daughter, a sprig of five-needle pine on which perches a replica Japanese bush warbler. As you can see, the overall composition and painting style are Yamato-e but, in the brushwork of trees and sliding-door paintings, you can also see Kanō school influence. Soken's large paintings with people are very rare and valuable.