Object Details
Artist
Style of Iwasa Matabei (1578-1650)
School/Tradition
Ukiyo-e
Label
These two paintings (see also F1903.60) are sections from a late-seventeenth-century handscroll by an unidentified painter. In one, a boy performs a so-called Narihira odori (Narihira dance), in which the dancer enacts the role of the poet, nobleman, and romantic hero Ariwara no Narihira (825-880). Narihira dances, which feature an elegant costume with a courtier's hat, were often performed by boys and young men in early-seventeenth-century kabuki. In the other painting, a monkey performs a dance to entertain a mother and her children.
Provenance
To 1903
Yamanaka & Company, to 1903 [1]
From 1903 to 1919
Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Yamanaka & Company in March 1903 [2]
From 1920
Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]
Notes:
[1] Undated folder sheet note. See Voucher no. 40, March 1903, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. See also, the object record for F1903.60. The majority of Charles Lang Freer’s purchases from Yamanaka & Company were made at its New York branch. Yamanaka & Company maintained branch offices, at various times, in Boston, Chicago, London, Peking, Shanghai, Osaka, Nara, and Kyoto. During the summer, the company also maintained seasonal locations in Newport, Bar Harbor, and Atlantic City.
[2] See note 1.
[3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Exhibition History
Japanese Arts in the Edo Period: 1615-1868, part 1 (August 18, 2007 to February 24, 2008)
The Floating World: Ukiyo-e Paintings and Prints (December 8, 2002 to May 26, 2003)
Year of the Monkey (May 18, 1980 to February 15, 1981)
Japanese Ukiyo-e Painting (May 2, 1973 to July 1, 1974)
Previous custodian or owner
Yamanaka and Co. 山中商会 (1917-1965) (C.L. Freer source)
Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)
Credit Line
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Date
late 17th century
Period
Edo period
Accession Number
F1903.61
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Type
Painting
Medium
Ink, color and gold on paper
Dimensions
H x W (image): 28.5 × 33.8 cm (11 1/4 × 13 5/16 in)
Origin
Japan
Related Online Resources
Google Arts & Culture
See more items in
National Museum of Asian Art
Data Source
National Museum of Asian Art
Topic
Edo period (1615 - 1868)
dancing
child
woman
man
fan
monkey
Japan
ukiyo-e
Japanese Art
Charles Lang Freer collection
Link to Original Record
Record ID
fsg_F1903.61