Printed from Woolley & Wallis

Description

FUKUO SESSHIN (1701-85)
EDO PERIOD (1615-1868), C.1770

A Japanese makimono (handscroll painting), 57cm x 1422cm. (2)

From a private collection, Hampshire.

The very long Japanese makimono (handscroll painting) in ink and colour on paper, depicting audiences enjoying various performances, some with famous characters from Noh plays; with a long signature at the end of the scroll reading Gyonen nanjusai, Kyokusoo Fukuo Sesshin hitsu (Painted by Fukuo Sesshin, Kyokusoo, at the age of 70) with two seals reading Morikatsu no in (the seal of Morikatsu); in a lacquered wood box, inscribed Nokyo chonohana, Fukuo Morikatsu Kyokusoo Sesshin hitsu (A lifelong passion for Noh theatre, painted by Fukuo Sesshin, Morikatsu, Kyokusoo).

Fukuo Sesshin (1701-85) was a Noh actor, the Ninth Head of the Fukuo-ryu Noh School and a painter who specialised in depicting plays and actors.

See the Edo-Tokyo Museum, access. 96200001, for another painting by Sesshin depicting an audience at the theatre.