Hokusai: Court Dancers (Sold)

Artist: Katsushika Hokusai
Title: Court Dancers
Series: One Hundred Poets, One Poem Each (Hyakunin isshu)
Date: ca. 1835

Daughters of the nobility dance on a raised platform for the emperor, whose unseen presence may be felt at right. There is a combination of autumnal colors and cherry blossoms, which lend the scene a heavenly, almost surreal feeling, (perhaps the heavenly feeling aroused in the courtier—see poem-- by the dance of the beautiful women?) Poem: Ama tsu kaze/ kumo no kayoiji/ fukitoji yo/ otome no sugata/ shibashi todomenu. (O ye Winds of Heaven!/In the paths among the clouds/Blow, and close the ways/That we may these virgin forms Yet a little while detain.)

Condition: Very good impression, color and condition. Center fold and some trimming left and bottom.
Dimensions: horizontal ôban
Publisher: Eijudô
Literature: See Morse’s “Hokusai; One Hundred Poets”, plate 12, page 38.
Seal: Eijudô
Signature: Saki no Hokusai manji

SKU: HOK080