Japan, late 19th to early 20th century
Ink, watercolors, and gouache on silk. Mounted as a hanging scroll on a silk brocade frame with ribbed stag antler handles. Depicting two manzai dancers performing their whimsical dance, one holding a fan, while the hunched, senile one beats his tsuzumi hand drum.
Inscriptions: Signed with seal.
Image SIZE 100 x 35 cm, SIZE incl. mounting 184 x 47.3 cm
Condition: Good condition with minor wear. Some creasing, minor folds, light soiling, and foxing. The mounting with usual traces of wear, foxing, and one tear.
With a wood tomobako storage box. (2)
Manzai is a traditional style of comedy in Japanese culture involving two performers, one being a ‘straight’ man (tsukkomi) and a ‘funny’ man (boke). Their performances were originally for the New Year festival with the earliest mention of manzai performers dating to the Heian period. While their performances were traditional, poets like Takarai Kikaku mocked them. In a Haiku, Kikaku wrote, ‘The New Year Dancers / Never miss a single step / Millet for the crane.’ While other poets like Yosa Buson wrote, ‘Yes, New Year’s dancers / Pounding good and properly / The dirt in Kyoto.’ The latter can be said of the dancers depicted on the present lot.
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