Boy’s Day Carp Streamer and Shōki Banner

before 1870

Not on view

On Boys’ Day, the fifth day of the fifth month, families displayed carp streamers and images of the demon-queller Shōki, painted in red to protect the household against disease; the rooster symbolizes honesty and fortitude. Kawanabe Kyōsai was renowned for his witty, humorous depictions of people, birds, and animals of all varieties. Once arrested for a caricature mocking the government, he became one of the most popular artists of his day.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Provenance

Exhibition History

References

五月幟図
Title: Boy’s Day Carp Streamer and Shōki Banner
Artist: Kawanabe Kyōsai 河鍋暁斎 (Japanese, 1831–1889)
Period: Meiji period (1868–1911)
Date: before 1870
Culture: Japan
Medium: Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk
Dimensions: Image: 37 1/4 × 14 1/8 in. (94.6 × 35.8 cm)
Overall with mounting: 73 × 19 1/4 in. (185.4 × 48.9 cm)
Overall with knobs: 73 × 21 1/8 in. (185.4 × 53.7 cm)
Classification: Paintings
Credit Line: Purchase, Friends of Asian Art Gifts, 2018
Object Number: 2018.22
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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By Kawanabe Kyōsai 河鍋暁斎

In the same medium

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Kawanabe Kyōsai 河鍋暁斎
sixth month 1860

Armor (<i>Gusoku</i>), Saotome Ietada Japanese, Iron, lacquer, silk, gilt copper, Japanese — Armor (*Gusoku*)
Armorer Helmet bowl signed Saotome Ietada
Armorer Breastplate inscribed inside, Myōchin Munesuke
16th and 18th centuries

Hawk at sunrise, Jeong Hong-Rae 정홍래 鄭弘來 Korean, Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk, Korea — Hawk at sunrise
Attributed to Jeong Hong-Rae 정홍래 鄭弘來
second half 18th century–first half 19th century

Two Crows on a Pine Branch, Kawanabe Kyōsai 河鍋暁斎 Japanese, Album leaf; ink and color on silk, Japan — Two Crows on a Pine Branch
Kawanabe Kyōsai 河鍋暁斎
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Shō, Bamboo wood, metal, Japanese — Shō
Japanese
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