Spirit Summoner; Wild Geese Returning Home (Maboroshi; Rakugan) (right) and A Thin Veil of Clouds; Clearing Weather (Usugumo; Seiran) (left), from the series Eight Views of The Tale of Genji in the Floating World (Ukiyo Genji hakkei)

Chōbunsai Eishi

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

In addition to his parodic Genji in Fashionable Modern Guise prints, Eishi created eight prints in diptych format that allude to Genji episodes. Each displays two beauties, with landscapes in insets that reference the scenic “Eight Views of Ōmi” and correspond to chapters from the tale. In the print representing Chapter 41, “Spirit Summoner,” the encircled geese and autumn grasses evoke a poem by the Akashi Lady. On the left, Chapter 19, “A Thin Veil of Clouds,” is recalled by the landscape of Awazu, a name that refers either to Genji’s interest in Akikonomu, or to a poetic exchange between Genji and the Akashi Lady.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.

Metropolitan Museum of Art