{"product_id":"royal-visit-to-ohara-from-the-tale-of-the-heike-tawaraya-sotatsu","title":"Royal Visit to Ōhara, from The Tale of the Heike - Tawaraya Sōtatsu","description":"\u003cp\u003eA six-panel folding screen by Tawaraya Sōtatsu depicting a scene from The Tale of the Heike, rendered in ink, colour, and gold leaf on paper.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis six-panel folding screen depicts a scene from the final chapters of The Tale of the Heike, a classic of Japanese literature. The narrative follows the retired Empress Kenreimon-in, who has retreated to a humble hermitage in the mountains of Ōhara following the destruction of the Taira clan. The composition captures the moment of a royal visit to her secluded dwelling, a poignant contrast between the simplicity of her monastic life and the remnants of her former status.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTawaraya Sōtatsu, a founder of the Rinpa school, employs a sophisticated use of negative space and gold leaf to define the environment. The rolling hills are rendered with soft, mineral-based pigments, while the figures are painted with precise, delicate brushwork. The screen functions as a continuous narrative, guiding the eye from the left, where the hermitage sits, across the mountainous terrain to the right, where the imperial party approaches on horseback.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe application of gold leaf across the paper surface creates a reflective quality that changes depending on the light in the room. This technique, characteristic of the Momoyama and early Edo periods, provides a sense of atmospheric depth without relying on Western linear perspective. The muted tones of the hills and the sparse placement of trees and figures create a sense of quietude, reflecting the themes of impermanence and renunciation central to the source text. Sōtatsu demonstrates a mastery of balance, ensuring that the decorative qualities of the gold ground do not overwhelm the narrative elements. The work remains a primary example of the Rinpa aesthetic, which prioritises a synthesis of classical literary themes and bold, decorative design.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/untitled-lovers-in-interior-kitagawa-utamaro\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eUntitled (Lovers in Interior) - Kitagawa Utamaro — Kitagawa Utamaro\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/actors-ichikawa-danjuro-5th-and-iwai-hanshiro-4th-katsukawa-shunei\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eActors Ichikawa Danjūrō 5th and Iwai Hanshirō 4th - Katsukawa Shun'ei — Katsukawa Shun'ei\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Tawara Sōtatsu","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58596328964431,"sku":null,"price":29.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58596333322575,"sku":null,"price":39.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58596333355343,"sku":null,"price":49.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58596333388111,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58596333420879,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58596333453647,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58596333486415,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58596333519183,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58596333551951,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58596333584719,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58596333617487,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58596333650255,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Royal-Visit-to-hara-from-The-Tale-of-the-Heike_Poster_CompositorV1_1787969680167.jpg?v=1787970273","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.com\/products\/royal-visit-to-ohara-from-the-tale-of-the-heike-tawaraya-sotatsu","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}