Portrait of Kō Sūkoku
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
possibly 1817
Portrait of Kō Sūkoku — Painting, by Watanabe Kazan (Japanese, 1793–1841); Tani Buncho (Japanese, 1763–1840), made in Japan, Edo period (1615–1868), dated possibly 1817.
Master of portraiture Watanabe Kazan’s memorial fan painting of the artist Kō Sūkoku (1730–1804) features a variant on one of the deceased’s poems by painter Tani Bunchō on the reverse. The short, unorthodox or comic poem (<em>haikai</em>) reads: <em>The grave is readied / and the sake warmed. / Oh, the cold! </em><br><br>Kazan was a disciple of Tani Bunchō, one of the most prominent painters of his day. The two first met in 1817, the year of the 13th anniversary of Kō Sūkoku’s death.
In Japanese Buddhist practice, the 13th death anniversary requires special memorial services, so it has been speculated that the two collaborated on the fan at that time. Many painters and print designers of the Edo period socialized with one another through poetry circles where linked verse poems (<em>renga</em>) and haikai were composed. Physical description: Fan, wood with ink, color, gold, and silver on paper; Overall: 17.8 x 45.7 cm (7 x 18 in.).
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
Held by Cleveland Museum of Art (object no. 1976.8). The museum record attributes this piece to Watanabe Kazan (Japanese, 1793–1841); Tani Buncho (Japanese, 1763–1840) in Japan, Edo period (1615–1868) around possibly 1817. Details beyond the museum's own catalogue entry have not been independently verified.
Physical characteristics
- Dimensions
- Overall: 17.8 x 45.7 cm (7 x 18 in.)
- Materials techniques
- Fan, wood with ink, color, gold, and silver on paper
Identification
- Source note
- All details come from the object's own museum catalogue record; nothing has been copied from other entries.
- Museum object name
- Painting
- Museum object number
- 1976.8
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.