Taiseikan Shosho Shiten|Commanders Receiving the Emperor's Drinking Cups
1886
ink
paper
From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art
About the artist
1886
ink
paper
From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art
Taiseikan Shosho Shiten|Commanders Receiving the Emperor's Drinking Cups is a 1886 ink by Yamazaki Toshinobu, a Impressionism work, held at Metropolitan Museum of Art.
This triptych shows three busy scenes with lots of people in bright, patterned clothes. On the left, a group stands and sits around a table, some holding cups. The middle panel has a woman in red dancing or bowing while others watch. The right side shows men in uniforms talking and gesturing, one sitting on a chair. The colors are bold—reds, greens, and golds—and the backgrounds have intricate designs. Look closer at the faces: some are blurred, but others show careful detail, especially the folds in their robes. The artist used sharp lines and flat colors, almost like a storybook illustration. Next, check out Yamazaki Toshinobu to see how he blended traditional Japanese styles with Western influences.
