JAPANESE ART > UKIYO-E WOODBLOCK PRINTS > THE MONK KISEN HOSHI

Lot 00395
N.1 ukiyo-e woodblock print

Tai Koun

THE MONK KISEN HOSHI

Year: 1899
Condition: very good
Size: 25,5 x 37,5 cm

SOLD

The Buddhist monk Kisen Hoshi (喜撰法師), one of the "six immortal poets" Rokkasen (六歌仙), as well as a priest in the city of Kyoto, escapes from the temple to admire the cherry blossoms. Walking with a flask of sake on his shoulders, he will end up meeting his beloved Ono no Komachi (小野小町) who, under the disguise of a maid, will offer him some tea and dance for him who, in return, will reciprocate with a chobokure chongare (ちょぼくれちょんがれ), an extravagant performance by which the monks drew people's attention to obtain alms.

The precious large vertical format woodblock print, entitled "Kisen" (喜撰), is taken from the series "Images of Dancing Figures" (踊姿絵) made in 1899 by the artist Tai Koun (田井耕耘).

The work on Japanese washi paper (和紙), printed by the publisher Matsuki Heikichi (松木平吉), despite the right signs of aging, is in very good general condition.

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