Frogs in Writing Contest c. 1738
ogawaharitsu
minneapolisinstituteofart
ink, color-on-paper
water colours
rough brush stroke
incomplete sketchy
japan
possibly oil pastel
ink
color-on-paper
underpainting
pastel chalk drawing
paint stroke
painting painterly
watercolour bleed
watercolor
"Frogs in Writing Contest" is a handscroll painting created by Ogawa Haritsu, a prominent artist of the Edo period, in 1738. It features a playful scene of frogs engaged in a writing competition, highlighting the humorous and whimsical nature of Japanese art. The delicate brushstrokes and soft washes of color create a lighthearted and humorous atmosphere. The scroll, measuring 10 3/8 × 43 1/2 in., is a testament to Haritsu's mastery of the art of ink-and-wash painting, showcasing his ability to capture the essence of his subjects with subtle detail and a sense of movement.
Comments
Frogs with human characteristics engage in poetry writing in this handscroll mounted as a hanging scroll. While some frogs appear naked, others don courtly attire: a black cylindrical hat and robe for the males, and the layered kimonos and long flowing hair for the females. The dressed frogs appear and act like Japanese aristocrats, recitingpoems written on thin strips of paper. Most of the naked frogs at the left grind ink for the courtiers to use. Meanwhile, a single frog at the right spits out a stream of water toinscribe the standing screen with the first line of a poem, perhaps as a commentary by the artist of how the art of poetry composition had trickled down to the lower classes.This illustrated fragment might have been a part of a narrative scroll, but the textual portion has been lost.
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