Folding Screen

This Japanese screen depicts books—some open, some closed and stacked, some with intricately patterned covers—scattered across its surface. This subject is unusual for screens, though sometimes found on textiles like kosode (premodern kimono). The scene is slightly off registered and disjointed where some of the screen panels join; this suggests that the scene may have been repurposed for the screen from another format, or that it was once a larger screen that may have been reduced in size (perhaps to match the size of 2023.30.2, as both are mounted identically and share a similar provenance), or that parts may have been replaced due to damage.