Yoshitoshi 芳年: Carrying a Giant Taro Root at the Senzoku Festival

Artist: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi 月岡芳年 (1839-1892)
Title: Carrying a Giant Root Vegetable at the Bird Festival at Senzoku
Series: Crazy Pictures of Famous Places in Tokyo (Tokyo kaika kyôga meisho) 東京 開花 狂画 名所
Date: 1881

Several men in festival coats carry an enormous root vegetable, possibly a taro root. To the right is a very amused group of onlookers who can’t contain their excitement. It’s difficult to pinpoint the indicated festival at Senzoku; today there is an annual festival of Senzokuike Hachimangu Shrine that is held in early September. Some sources have translated the giant vegetable as a “potato”, but it does not look at all like the Japanese sweet potato.

Condition: Very good impression, color and condition. Minor discoloration along top edge.

Dimensions: chuban (18.7 x 24.5 cm) Publisher: Tsunashima Kamekichi
Literature: Keyes 436.7 (series) and Philadelphia Museum of Art
Signature: --Yoshitoshi giga

SKU: YOT926