Fragment of the Yujo monogatari (Tales of pleasure women)

This fragment is from a longer illustrated narrative scroll describing the customs of romance in Heian (794-1185) times. This illustration from Tales of pleasure women is rendered in the hakubyoga style. The tale may be based on Yujoki (Record of pleasure women), a series of observations on women of carnal commerce written by author and statesman Oe no Masafusa (1041-1111). In addition to the specialized use of ink monochrome, the artist used the visual convention of "blown roof" (fukinuki yatai), allowing the viewer to peer into action normally obscured by architecture, and suggesting the narrator's omniscient point of view. Sequential numbering of text units alerts the viewer to the proper sequence for reading.