Where can I see Drinking Festival of the Eight Immortals of the Wine Cup?

Drinking Festival of the Eight Immortals of the Wine Cup is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Drinking Festival of the Eight Immortals of the Wine Cup?

Drinking Festival of the Eight Immortals of the Wine Cup is associated with Ukiyo-e.

Can I buy a print of Drinking Festival of the Eight Immortals of the Wine Cup?

Museum-quality prints of Drinking Festival of the Eight Immortals of the Wine Cup are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Drinking Festival of the Eight Immortals of the Wine Cup

Nagasawa Rosetsu , 1792

Drinking Festival of the Eight Immortals of the Wine Cup is an unspecified painting by the Ukiyo-e artist Nagasawa Rosetsu. It dates from 1792 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The work portrays a crowd engaged in drinking, transforming a Chinese cultural motif into a Japanese visual idiom.

The painting depicts the Eight Immortals of the Wine Cup, a subject drawn from Chinese literary tradition that celebrates a convivial gathering of eight Tang dynasty scholars known for their love of drinking. The work portrays a crowd engaged in drinking, transforming a Chinese cultural motif into a Japanese visual idiom. The iconography centers on communal revelry and the liberated spirit associated with wine culture, themes that resonated with Edo-period Japanese artists and patrons.

By selecting this subject, Nagasawa Rosetsu engaged with a celebrated East Asian theme that carried connotations of scholarly fellowship, aesthetic refinement, and the transcendent freedom found in intoxication. The painting represents the cross-cultural circulation of literary and artistic motifs between China and Japan during the eighteenth century, while also reflecting the period's interest in depicting scenes of pleasure and social gathering.

History & Provenance

The painting titled Drinking Festival of the Eight Immortals of the Wine Cup was created by the Japanese artist Nagasawa Rosetsu in 1783. Produced in Japan, this work is classified as a painting that depicts a crowd engaged in drinking, featuring the Eight Immortals. The artwork is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

While the specific commission details and the full chain of ownership prior to its arrival at the museum are not detailed in the provided records, the creation date is firmly established as 1783. The piece remains a significant example of Rosetsu's output during his lifetime, which spanned from 1754 to 1799.

Overview

Nagasawa Rosetsu created Drinking Festival of the Eight Immortals of the Wine Cup in 1792. This painting, now housed at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, presents a vibrant outdoor assembly. Numerous figures are depicted engaging in various activities around a central table, suggesting a festive occasion. The composition captures a dynamic yet ordered scene, characteristic of communal celebrations.

Technique & Style

Rosetsu employs a detailed yet harmonious style to render this expansive outdoor setting. The composition is filled with numerous figures, arranged in various groups around a central feast, creating a sense of lively activity without appearing disorganized. The artist uses a subdued color palette, primarily soft grays, browns, and whites, punctuated by subtle accents of pink and green, which contributes to the painting's refined aesthetic. A kneeling figure holding a small object adds a specific narrative element to the scene.

The Eight Immortals of the Wine Cup, Tani Bunchō

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Artist & collection

Artist

Nagasawa Rosetsu

Nagasawa Rosetsu (長沢芦雪; 1754–1799) was a Japanese painter during the Edo period. A disciple of the Maruyama School, he was known for his versatile artistic style. He was born to the family of a low-ranking samurai. He…