Tatars playing polo and hunting

Maker(s)
Artist: Kano Tan'yū 狩野探幽 (1602-1674)
Historical period(s)
Edo period, 1668
Medium
Ink and light color on paper
Dimensions
H x W (.36): 152.3 x 351.6 cm (59 15/16 x 138 7/16 in) H x W (.37): 152.1 x 351.6 cm (59 7/8 x 138 7/16 in)
Geography
Japan
Credit Line
Purchase — funds provided by the bequest of Edith Ehrman
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art
Accession Number
F1982.36-37
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Painting
Type

Screens (six-panel)

Keywords
Edo period (1615 - 1868), goat, hunting, Japan, landscape, man, mountain, polo, rabbit, sport, tiger, woman
Provenance
Provenance research underway.
Label

This pair of screens depict the equestrian activities of the nomadic Tartars of northern China. Tan'yu's screens are unusual in that they are preliminary sketches of full screen compositions. Tan'yu's ink monochrome and light color renderings are accompanied by various notations indicating his intentions for the use of color in the full polychrome production. Kano Jinnoji (active 1610-40), whom the completed pair is attributed, was Tan'yu's uncle. Unlike his uncle, Tan'yu arranged the scenes in this painting as genre episodes within a seasonal progression from right to left, spring to winter.

In order to be readily accessible to the shogunate, which he served as principal official painter, Tan'yu lived near the gate of Edo castle, at Kajibashi. The residence gave its name to a school of painters who served, in effect, as the painting academy during the Edo period (1615-1868). Tan'yu served not only the shogunate but also a wide range of Edo collectors for whom he was aesthetic adviser and authenticator of Chinese and Japanese painting.

Published References
  • unknown title. no. 194 Tokyo, July 1982. fig. 61.
Collection Area(s)
Japanese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
SI Usage Statement

Usage Conditions Apply

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

The information presented on this website may be revised and updated at any time as ongoing research progresses or as otherwise warranted. Pending any such revisions and updates, information on this site may be incomplete or inaccurate or may contain typographical errors. Neither the Smithsonian nor its regents, officers, employees, or agents make any representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the information on the site. Use this site and the information provided on it subject to your own judgment. The Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery welcome information that would augment or clarify the ownership history of objects in their collections.