The Death-Mask
He did not know many other men she had loved before. It was obvious, however, that he was certainly her last lover, for her death was near.
Novelist Kawabata Yasunari was selected for the Nobel Prize in literature for 1968.
The Death- Mask (Shimen) was first published in Fujin-Gaho magazine in April 1932. In March 1971 it was included in Tanagokoro (Palm-of-the-Hand Stories) published by Shincho Bunko, a collection of Kawabata’s short-short stories (shohen-shosetsu) ranging from a usual two to up to ten pages long. Kawabata wrote these narrative vignettes starting from his twenties for over forty years. Initially 111 stories were included and then 11 more were added to make it 122 in a revised anthology. Appearing here is a work exploring how death transcends gender differences. An artist creates the death mask of a woman who was previously his lover. Other men who were once attracted by her charm look at the death mask, but are confused that it may look like a man or a woman. With death, gender becomes ambiguous. This is an exquisite piece backed by Kawabata’s finely honed sense of beauty.
Novelist Kawabata Yasunari was selected for the Nobel Prize in literature for 1968.
The Death- Mask (Shimen) was first published in Fujin-Gaho magazine in April 1932. In March 1971 it was included in Tanagokoro (Palm-of-the-Hand Stories) published by Shincho Bunko, a collection of Kawabata’s short-short stories (shohen-shosetsu) ranging from a usual two to up to ten pages long. Kawabata wrote these narrative vignettes starting from his twenties for over forty years. Initially 111 stories were included and then 11 more were added to make it 122 in a revised anthology. Appearing here is a work exploring how death transcends gender differences. An artist creates the death mask of a woman who was previously his lover. Other men who were once attracted by her charm look at the death mask, but are confused that it may look like a man or a woman. With death, gender becomes ambiguous. This is an exquisite piece backed by Kawabata’s finely honed sense of beauty.
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