Scenes from Comic Plays [one of a pair] c. 1710

Hanabusa Itchō painted this scene from a comic play on paper, capturing a moment ripe with symbolic tension. At its heart is the raised stick – an emblem of power and potential violence. The motif of the raised hand holding an instrument of authority echoes across cultures and epochs. We see it in ancient Egyptian depictions of pharaohs wielding scepters, in Roman emperors brandishing the gladius, and even in religious art where saints hold staffs, each instance carrying the weight of dominion and the threat of punishment. Yet, here, in this Japanese scene, its presence feels imbued with comic absurdity. The scene’s emotional resonance taps into our primal understanding of hierarchical relationships. This dynamic persists, a visual echo chamber where power and submission play out in endless variations, reminding us that even in laughter, the specter of authority looms large, a cycle of symbolic repetition.