Staff-Waving Dance
c. 1790
Long before he painted the famous Great Wave, Hokusai used the name Shunrō to create lively illustrations like this one. The scene captures a kabuki performance of the 'Staff-Waving Dance,' where a dancer in elaborate, patterned robes leans back dramatically while brandishing a tasseled staff. Kneeling beside the action, a bald man with a bemused, almost sleepy expression provides a hilarious contrast to the energetic movement. This piece, created around 1790, shows the artist's early fascination with theater and everyday characters, proving he was a master of storytelling even before his landscape phase.
- Technique
- Woodblock print
- Material
- Ink and color on paper
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