Pair of six-panel folding screens; ink, color, and gold on paper
Hogen to the left and right is Heiji
The two six-panel screen shows the two civil wars that occurred in the Hogen and Heiji eras that took place in 1156 and 1160. Involving only a handful of politically famous figures of the Heike and Genji clans; the war was only for a few days . The six panel shows how it signaled the destruction of an old era ruling and the coming of a new era. The city of Kyoto is viewed from above in a wide landscape. The main battle in the war seems to be in the center in the panels and the other minor parts appear in the panel randomly. There appears to be no chronological sequence to the war. The obscure greens, browns, and blues of the landscape with the clouds of gold make colorful and decorative effects. Mountains, rivers, houses, and men and women appear from behind the golden clouds.
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ReplyDeleteEven though the screen is rather large the beauty is in the details. The different colors have a great contrasting effect to them. You can feel the depth and texture in the landscape. The detail of the warriors from clothes, weapons, and expressions is amazing. It really puts you right in the middle of it all.
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