Section from Theatres of the East

Category

Library Item

Item no

43193

Title

Section from Theatres of the East, a Japanese handscroll painting

Description

Section of a handscroll painting depicting the theatre district of Edo, or Tokyo in Japan as it is known today.

Groups of people walk along the street in front of the shops. Behind the facade are three theatre stages. On the left is a small stage with a scene including a pantomime horse, in the middle is a larger stage with musicians playing and an audience watching from a balcony and the floor. Seated below the stage is a woman breastfeeding her child whilst an attendant walks amongst the audience offering food. On the right a private party is taking place, with a male actor (with purple head covering) playing the samisen.

Artist / maker

Furuyama, Moromasa

Date

1720

Type

Ink and colour

Location

Art and Design Library

Both Chinese and Japanese artists of this period perfected the art of a linear narrative on a handscroll, to be unrolled in sections from right to left, in segments of approximately 60cm wide. Onlookers would return to the artwork to view the picture as the sections revealed at regular intervals over a period of time. The story develops in time and depicts simultaneous activities in a perspective view. (It is thought that the sections in this case were larger, as depicted here at around 120cm.)

The handscroll was given to Edinburgh Central Library as a gift from the Dyer family. It was painted by Furuyama Moromasa and it is signed 'Nihon eshi Furuyama Moromasa e' [Picture by Furuyama Moromasa, painter of Japan']. He is reputed to have been the son of Furuyama Moroshige (Moronobu's senior pupil). Hishikawa Moronobu (1618-1694) was the leading artist in Edo (Tokyo) and is regarded as the founder of the school of 'Ukiyo-e', known to the west as Pictures of the Floating World - scenes from the theatre and the life of courtesans.

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Related images

Related subjects

Animals > Mammals > Horses

Architecture > Architectural features > Balconies

Business > Advertising > Signs

Clothing and dress > Accessories > Fans

Clothing and dress > Accessories > Straw hats

Clothing and dress > Garments > Kimonos

Clothing and dress > Garments > Loin cloths

Military > Arms and armament > Daggers and swords

Places > Asia > Japan

Sport and leisure > Culture > Musical instruments

Sport and leisure > Culture > Stage

Sport and leisure > Culture > Theatres

Transport > Infrastructure > Streets

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