The Drinking Match: Mythical Ape Yale University Art Gallery

1825 (year of the rooster)

柳々居辰斎「鶏合一番左猩々」すりもの錦絵江戸時代

This print depicts three bales of sake alongside a vermillion-lacquer cup, the shallow interior of which features a curious motif of a dragon looking at a bee. A section of the large circle at the top center of the image reads shōshō or shōjō in Japanese, meaning literally “mythical ape” but also resembling the phrase for “quite a drinker.” The pun refers to one of the convivial activities of the literary confraternities of Edo-period
Japan, such as the Peony Poetry Club of the city of Nikkō, which may have commissioned this work. Two of the names written on the bales correspond to poets from this club who are identified at the upper left of the sheet. Here, their poems recount how happy those gathered were to view the cherry blossoms while exchanging cups of sake.

Medium: Surimono, shikishi-ban; polychrome woodblock print with brass, silver, and gaufrage
Dimensions: sheet: 8 11/16 × 7 1/2 in. (22 × 19 cm)
Credit Line: Promised gift of Virginia Shawan Drosten and Patrick Kenadjian, B.A. 1970
Loan number: ILE2017.30.136
Geography: Japan
Culture: Japanese
Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
Classification: Prints
Disclaimer: Note: This electronic record was created from historic documentation that does not necessarily reflect the Yale University Art Gallery’s complete or current knowledge about the object. Review and updating of records is ongoing.

Provenance

Joan B. Mirviss (dealer), New York; sold to Virginia Shawan Drosten and Patrick Kenadjian, Koenigstein im Taunus, Germany, 2006 (on loan to the Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, Conn., 2017–present)

Object copyright

No Copyright - United States

Additional information

Object/Work type

color woodcuts, surimono

Inscriptions

Shakuyaku-ren\r\nPeony Club\r\n芍薬連\r\n\r\nPoem 1 (Right)\r\n鶏合　一番左　猩々　　　　日光　龍吟閣\r\n　春くめる／よろこび　酒と／な里尓介り／笑ふ麹の／花の下露\r\n\r\n　春酌める／喜び酒と／なりにけり／笑う麹の／花の下露\r\n\r\n haru kumeru/ yorokobi zake to/ nari ni keri/ warau kōji no/ hana no shitakage\r\n\r\n　It has become the time to be able to dip into the sake of happy occasion in the spring time. The malt is open with laughter receiving the dew of the flower.\r\n\r\nPoem 2 (Left)\r\n　者る霞／酌可者したる／花見酒／人を毛櫻／色尓奈しけ理\r\n\r\n　春霞／酌交わしたる／花見酒／人をも　桜／色に成しけり\r\n\r\n harugasumi/ shaku kawashitaru/ hanamizake/ hito wo mo sakura/ iro ni nashi keri\r\n\r\n　Spring mist, exchanging the cups at the flower-viewing-sake party, even the people have been colored with cherry pink.\r\n\r\nPoets\r\nNikkō; Ryūgin-kaku (日光　龍吟閣)\r\nSame as above (meaninbg from) Nikkō; Hōmei-kaku (仝　鳳鳴閣)

Signed

Shinsai
辰斎

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