The painting depicts the courtesan from Tsuya Monogatari (A Tale of the Night of the Wake), a novel by Izumi Kyoka that Kaburaki Kiyokata found enchanting. It is a tragic story of her relationship with a poor, young artist, and the scene depicted here is when she chooses to make their love eternal by committing suicide, remaining headstrong and proud to the end. However, the painting does not attempt to describe the narrative. The background is made using the technique of “backing foil,” in which gold leaf is applied to the silk surface from behind. Bathed in a dim, soft light, the woman’s figure flows diagonally across the painting, emphasizing her beauty. Although her gaze appears hollow, it still has the power to grip the viewer. Capturing the essence of Kiyokata’s art, the work depicts not only superficial beauty but also the subtleties of the human heart.
(UCHIYAMA Junko)
The painting depicts the courtesan from Tsuya Monogatari (A Tale of the Night of the Wake), a novel by Izumi Kyoka that Kaburaki Kiyokata found enchanting. It is a tragic story of her relationship with a poor, young artist, and the scene depicted here is when she chooses to make their love eternal by committing suicide, remaining headstrong and proud to the end. However, the painting does not attempt to describe the narrative. The background is made using the technique of “backing foil,” in which gold leaf is applied to the silk surface from behind. Bathed in a dim, soft light, the woman’s figure flows diagonally across the painting, emphasizing her beauty. Although her gaze appears hollow, it still has the power to grip the viewer. Capturing the essence of Kiyokata’s art, the work depicts not only superficial beauty but also the subtleties of the human heart.
(UCHIYAMA Junko)