A FINE SCROLL PAINTING OF SIX SKELETONS CELEBRATING UNDER THE MOON

拍品描述

A FINE SCROLL PAINTING OF SIX SKELETONS CELEBRATING UNDER THE MOON Japan, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) to Meiji period (1868-1912) Ink on paper. Mounted as a hanging scroll within a silk brocade frame with lacquered wood jikusaki (roller ends). Finely painted to depict a dancing skeleton with a fan to the center surrounded by convivial friends playing music and drinking sake under the full moon. Inscriptions: To the upper right, 白々、う知登千天、涼しき、月の下○耳飛、互に久見き、猛こと盤なし Shirajira, uchi tojite, suzushiki, tsuki no shita, tagai ni, kumiki, takeki kotowa nashi [Pale dawn light closes in, Cool beneath the moon, We pass the cups between us - No burning bright last forever], with a seal mark 乾坤弌[…], Kenkon ichi […], [The seal of Heaven and Earth […]]. To the lower left, two seal marks, 青松菊友 Seisho kikuyu [Green pines and chrysanthemum as companion] and […]市子[…], […] ichi, aza […], [The name […], given aza name […]]. Image SIZE 57.5 x 31.1 cm, SIZE incl. mounting 115 x 60.4 cm The painting and poem are suffused with a sense of ‘mujo’ (the impermanence of all things) and ‘ukiyo’ (life’s fleeting, floating quality). Museum comparison: Compare a related hanging scroll painting of dancing skeletons by Kawanabe Kyosai, dated 1871-1889, 213.5 cm long, in the British Museum, museum number 1946,0209,0.48. Auction comparison: Compare a related painting of skeletons, by an unidentified artist, dated early 20th century, at Bonhams, Fine Japanese Works of Art, 22 March 2011, New York, lot 3304 (sold for USD 2,440 or approx. EUR 3,100 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing).

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