Rooster in the Snow

Dancing and Singing
踏歌図

DancingandSinging

A man holding a fan sings under the light of paper lanterns at dusk while others dance around him. This is most likely a portrayal of the bon odori, a dance used to honor the spirits of deceased ancestors. The painting surface is covered with light ink, suggesting the night setting.The inscription on the box for this scroll reads “Tōka-zu” (lit. “picture of stamping and singing”). This was a dance which consisted of singing and the stamping of feet, and was originally practiced by common people during the Sui and Tang dynasties in China. This type of painting, which depicts the customs of Jakuchu’s time, is rare among his work.

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