Kobayashi Kiyochika, 1847-1915

Two Minstrels

two female musicians strolling and holding shamisen; hanging scroll; ink and color on paper; signed Kiyochika and with artist's seal ni roku Kiyochika; post 1880s

painting: 11 by 7 7/8 in., 28 by 20 cm
overall: 36 1/4 by 11 3/8 in., 92 by 29 cm

As the woodblock print industry struggled in competition with the myriad of means of mechanical reproduction introduced with modernization such as etching, lithography and photography, commissions for print artists were rapidly diminishing in the last decades of the 19th century. Likely by necessity, painting was increasingly the focus of Kiyochika's energies by the 1890s. Fortunately, he was well-known as a print designer, cartoonist, and illustrator, and he was well-travelled, which helped establish Kiyochika as a professional painter as well. One of his talents was his ability to produce quickly-executed paintings on the spot (sekiga), a form of entertainment as much as a demonstration of his artistic virtuoso.

$2,600