Bugaku Scroll
Unknown Artist
17th century
Medium
Handscroll from set of two; ink, color, and gold on paper
Dimensions
14 3/8 in. x 55 ft. 8 3/8 in. (36.5 x 1697.7 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Seymour Fund, 1957
Accession Number
57.52.2
Tags
Art Historical Context
Welcome to the enchanting world of the *Bugaku Scroll*, a 17th-century handscroll from Japan's Edo period (16151868). This exquisite work, part of a set of two, captures the rhythmic elegance of bugaku—ancient court dances performed by men in elaborate costumes. Unfurling over an astonishing 55 feet, it immerses viewers in a procession of dancers frozen in dynamic poses, evoking the grandeur of imperial performances that blended Japanese tradition with influences from China and Korea. Crafted by an unknown artist using ink, vibrant colors, and shimmering gold on paper, the scroll exemplifies ...