DATA

Artist:

Kano Eitoku

Historical era:

Azuchi-Momoyama (16th century)

Material:

printed, gold on washi paper

Medium:

Pair of six-fold screens

Theme:

High Resolution Facsimile of Historical Cultural Assets

Size:

Each screen H159.2 × W361.8 cm

Recipient:

Yonezawa CityMAP

[Original]

Current owner:

Yonezawa City Uesugi Museum

Material:

ink, color and gold on washi paper

DESCRIPTION

It is said that this painting was done when Eitoku was 23. Among the various stories surrounding its creation, it is best known as being a gift from Oda Nobunaga to Uesugi Kenshin. The right screen (shown below) shows the Shimogyo (lower capital) area, including the Imperial Palace, Kiyomizudera, and Toji, with the bustling Gion festival taking place in the center. The left screen shows the scenery of the Kamigyo area (upper capital), with large depictions of the Kubo and Hosokawa residences. A total of 2,485 people from all ranks of life, including priests, laity, nobility, soldiers, and commoners appear throughout the two screens. Together as a pair, the work captures the liveliness of the scene so well that one might be fooled into noticing the sounds and conversations of the individuals within. This work is a masterpiece in terms of both the works by Eitoku that still exist, and of the countless works that depict scenes in and around Kyoto.