Entertainments of the Four Seasons in Kyoto

Maruyama Okyo, Artist Takahashi Munenao, Artist
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About the Artwork

Maruyama Ōkyo was the master of the realist school of painting in eighteenth-century Japan. Ōkyo’s brilliant talent in genre painting is evident in his execution of the popular time-honored theme of seasonal activities. A scene of a summer night gathering along the cool banks of the Kamo River at the intersection of Shijo Street is preceded by a scene of spring cherry blossoms and followed by scenes of the fall lantern festival and the winter preparations for the New Year’s festivities. Between the scenes are sections of spontaneous cursive-style narrative text by the renowned calligrapher Takahashi Munenao.

Entertainments of the Four Seasons in Kyoto

ca. 1770 - 1777

Maruyama Okyo (Artist) Japanese, 1733-1795 Takahashi Munenao (Artist) Japanese, 1701 - 1785

Ink on paper

Overall (Painting): 11 1/4 inches × 46 feet 3 3/8 inches (28.6 cm × 14 m 10.7 cm) Overall (Overall height of scroll): 11 15/16 inches (30.4 cm) Image (Spring scene): 11 1/4 × 44 13/16 inches (28.6 × 113.8 cm) Image (Summer scene): 11 1/4 × 52 5/8 inches (28.6 × 133.7 cm) Image (Autumn scene): 11 1/4 × 44 13/16 inches (28.6 × 113.9 cm) Image (Winter scene): 11 1/4 × 45 1/4 inches (28.6 × 114.9 cm)

Paintings

Asian Art

Founders Society Purchase, Edsel and Eleanor Ford Exhibition and Acquisition Fund, Alan and Marianne Schwartz Fund with funds from Michigan National Corporation, Mrs. Howard J. Stoddard and Mr. and Mrs. Stanford C. Stoddard

1983.21

This work is in the public domain.

Markings

Calligraphy, throughout: [text by Takashasi Munenao]

Stamp, in red, lower right, on first sheet: [seal]

Provenance

Hara Collection. (Mayuyama and Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan)

1983-present, purchase by the Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit, Michigan, USA)

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Exhibition History

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Published References

Taki, Dr. Seiichi. Kokka, no. 331.

"Founders Society Reports." Bulletin of the DIA 61, no. 3 (1982/83): p. 35 (ill.).

100 Masterworks from the Detroit Institute of Arts. New York, 1985, pp. 58-59 (ill.).

Yoshizawa, Chu. "Maruyama Okyo hitsu shiki yuraku zukan shita-e ni tsuite." (The draft of Maruyama Okyo's Handscroll of "Merriments of the Four Seasons".) Kokka, no. 1081 (1985): pp. 11-19.

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Catalogue Raisoneé

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Credit Line for Reproduction

Maruyama Okyo; Takahashi Munenao, Entertainments of the Four Seasons in Kyoto, ca. 1770 - 1777, ink on paper. Detroit Institute of Arts, Founders Society Purchase, Edsel and Eleanor Ford Exhibition and Acquisition Fund, Alan and Marianne Schwartz Fund, et al., 1983.21.

Entertainments of the Four Seasons in Kyoto: Main View of Collection Gallery
Entertainments of the Four Seasons in Kyoto: 1 of Collection Gallery Entertainments of the Four Seasons in Kyoto: 2 of Collection Gallery

+ 13 images

Entertainments of the Four Seasons in Kyoto
Entertainments of the Four Seasons in Kyoto