Artwork
菖蒲の葉を持つ「野郎」図大津絵|Ōtsu-e of a Youth Holding Irises (Yarō)
菖蒲の葉を持つ「野郎」図大津絵|Ōtsu-e of a Youth Holding Irises (Yarō) is an ink painting. It dates from 1649 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work is a hanging scroll executed in ink and color on paper, depicting a youthful figure in a vivid red garment.
About this work
Technique & Style
The composition portrays a youth grasping irises, rendered in the distinctive bold outlines and flat color fields typical of early Edo-period popular prints.
The work is executed as a hanging scroll using ink and polychrome pigments on paper, a format characteristic of the Ōtsu-e tradition. The composition portrays a youth grasping irises, rendered in the distinctive bold outlines and flat color fields typical of early Edo-period popular prints. The anonymous hand employs a restrained palette of blues and greens to suggest foliage, while the figure’s posture and facial expression convey a lively, almost theatrical presence.
As a scroll, the piece was designed for vertical display, allowing the viewer’s eye to travel upward along the flowing brushstrokes that define the foliage and water motifs.
History & Provenance
The Ōtsu-e of a Youth Holding Irises (Yarō) is part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Created in 1649, this hanging scroll depicts a man and is attributed to an anonymous painter. The work originates from Japan and is classified within the museum's holdings of paintings.
Context
The work titled 菖蒲の葉を持つ「野郎」図大津絵|Ōtsu-e of a Youth Holding Irises (Yarō) is dated 1649 and executed as a hanging scroll in ink and color on paper. It belongs to the portrait genre within the Ōtsu-e tradition, a form of Japanese painting that emerged during the Edo period. The composition depicts a young man holding irises.
The piece is attributed to an anonymous painter and is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, indicating its relevance to museum scholarship and the study of Edo‑period portraiture.
Overview
The work is a hanging scroll executed in ink and color on paper, depicting a youthful figure in a vivid red garment. He holds a cluster of iris leaves, fanned before him, his expression composed with a faint smile. The composition relies on bright pigments that stand out against an otherwise unadorned paper background, creating a lively yet straightforward visual impact.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is a young man, traditionally identified as a "yarō", a term for a youthful male, who appears to be enjoying the cool shade of iris foliage. The pose, with the leaves spread like a fan, suggests a moment of leisurely contemplation, perhaps invoking the seasonal freshness of early summer and the modest pleasure of simple pleasures.
Artist & collection
