Mitate-e of Courtesan Eguchi, parodying Fugen Bosatsu, seated astride an elephant

The subject of this scroll reflects a thirteenth-century Japanese account recorded in the Senjusho of an encounter between the monk and poet Saigyo and the courtesan Eguchi, who was one of many prostitutes living in the town Eguchi along the Yodo River. The scene depicts a subject often treated in Ukiyo-e paintings of beauties: the courtesan Eguchi seated on an elephant in parody of the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra (Fugen). Scroll contained in original wooden box with lid and painted inscription.

Maker(s)
Artist: Kobayashi Kiyochika 小林清親 (1847-1915)
Historical period(s)
Meiji era, 1868-1912
Medium
Ink and color on paper
Dimensions
H x W (image): 113.8 x 41.3 cm (44 13/16 x 16 1/4 in)
Geography
Japan
Credit Line
Purchase from the Estate of Robert O. Muller with funds provided by the Friends of the Freer and Sackler Galleries and the Harold P. Stern Memorial Fund
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art
Accession Number
F2004.10
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Painting
Type

Hanging scroll

Keywords
Buddhism, courtesan, elephant, Japan, kakemono, Meiji era (1868 - 1912), monk, ukiyo-e
Provenance
Provenance research underway.
Description

The subject of this scroll reflects a thirteenth-century Japanese account recorded in the Senjusho of an encounter between the monk and poet Saigyo and the courtesan Eguchi, who was one of many prostitutes living in the town Eguchi along the Yodo River. The scene depicts a subject often treated in Ukiyo-e paintings of beauties: the courtesan Eguchi seated on an elephant in parody of the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra (Fugen). Scroll contained in original wooden box with lid and painted inscription.

Collection Area(s)
Japanese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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