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The Four Accomplishments (colour & gold on silk) (pair to 3930722)
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The Four Accomplishments (colour & gold on silk) (pair to 3930722)
3930723 The Four Accomplishments (colour & gold on silk) (pair to 3930722) by Toyohiro, Utagawa (1773-1828); 101.7x41.5 cm; Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution, USA; (add.info.: Hanging scroll (mounted on panel)
The Four Accomplishments-arts to be mastered by an ideal Chinese scholar-were playing the musical instrument qin, the board game weiqi, calligraphy, and painting. This ideal was adopted in Japan and slightly modified to include koto, a type of zither played by plucking (shown at the far right), and the Japanese board game go (replaced here by sugoroku, a game similar to backgammon). Instead of scholarly gentlemen practicing the Four Accomplishments, however, these paintings show Japanese courtesans in the urban " floating world" of pleasure and entertainment. While geisha and high-class courtesans often possessed great artistic skills, their appearance in conjunction with these scholarly Chinese pursuits creates an unexpected joining of disparate themes and social contexts. This form of artistic play on the unexpected, known as mitate, was popular in literature and visual art during the Edo period (1615-1868).); Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution; Gift of Charles Lang Freer; Japanese, out of copyright
Media ID 25139012
© Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution Gift of Charles Lang Freer / Bridgeman Images
Accomplishments Board Game Boardgame Courtesan Courtesans Geisha Geishas Hanging Scroll Koto Scholar Scholarship Skill Skills Stringed Instrument Ukiyo E Zither Accomplishment
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This print showcases "The Four Accomplishments" by Toyohiro, Utagawa. The artwork, created with color and gold on silk, measures 101.7x41.5 cm and is housed in the Freer Gallery of Art at the Smithsonian Institution in the USA. "The Four Accomplishments" refers to a set of skills that an ideal Chinese scholar was expected to master: playing the musical instrument qin, engaging in the board game weiqi, practicing calligraphy, and painting. In this Japanese adaptation of the concept, koto (a plucked zither) and sugoroku (a game similar to backgammon) were added. However, what makes these paintings unique is their depiction of Japanese courtesans instead of scholarly gentlemen engaged in these pursuits. This unexpected combination creates a fascinating juxtaposition between themes and social contexts. During Japan's Edo period (1615-1868), artistic playfulness known as mitate became popular in literature and visual art. It involved incorporating unexpected elements into traditional subjects or settings. In this case, showcasing geisha and high-class courtesans alongside scholarly activities adds an intriguing twist to conventional portrayals. This print captures not only Toyohiro's exquisite craftsmanship but also offers insight into cultural adaptations during a specific historical period. With its vibrant colors and attention to detail, it serves as a testament to both artistic skill and creative reinterpretation.
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