A Puppet-show: <em>The Story of The Potted Trees</em>
Bunkaku
early 18th century
Classification
Painting
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Accession Number
F1898.505
Tags
Charles Lang Freer collectionEdo period (1615 - 1868)JapanJapanese Artmusicmusicianpuppetryshamisentheaterukiyo-e
About this artwork
This rare painting depicts the stage of the Takemoto theater in Osaka during a performance of the puppet play, The Woman's Potted Dwarf Trees. The story takes place during the reign of Hojo Tokiyori (1227-1263), a leader of the recently formed Kamakura military government. A retainer of that government, Tsuneyo, fell into disfavor and was banished. One snowy night Tsuneyo and his wife, living in much diminished circumstances, received a traveling monk seeking shelter. Tsuneyo, embarrassed by his...
About the Artist
Bunkaku · 1686–1764
Japanese, 1686–1764