Ōtsu-e Nirvana of the Buddha (Ōtsu-e Butsu Nehanzu)
1804
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1804
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Ōtsu-e Nirvana of the Buddha (Ōtsu-e Butsu Nehanzu) is a 1804 unspecified by Hakuen, a Romanticism work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This painting shows a cartoonish Buddha lying down with a crowd around him. The mourners include a grinning demon dressed as a priest beating a gong. A wisteria maiden stands on the left looking bored. Hakuen turned a serious scene into playful fun. The demon pretends to pray but his drum hides his smirk. Traditional nirvana art is calm, but here everyone acts silly. If this quirky style grabs you, check out works by Hakuen (Japanese, active 1850–1870).
The painting parodies the traditional representation of this subject. The death of Buddha is actually the moment he achieves nirvana and escapes the endless cycle of death and rebirth. Hakuen transformed this serious moment (see The Death of the Buddha [1916.1141]) into a lively parody with otsu-e subjects. Mourners surround the Buddha. An oni, who pretends to be a priest, holds his gong in the air as he beats his drums and chants prayers. The wisteria maiden appears at the left, bringing water to the mourners. Behind her is an oni in the guise of a thunder god beating his drums. The animals…
Read the full account in the museum source.
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