Courtiers
1800s
Kawanabe Kyōsai, often dubbed the 'Demon of Painting,' loved to poke fun at the serious elites of his day. In this lively sketchbook spread, he captures a hilarious confrontation between two groups of courtiers. On the left, a pair of figures are practically rolling with laughter, with one pointing an accusing finger across the page. Opposite them, two stiff-looking nobles sit in their traditional robes and tall hats, looking thoroughly unamused by the joke. It's a perfect example of Kyōsai's quick, expressive brushwork that brought everyday humor and satire to life in 19th-century Japan.
- Technique
- Ink wash drawing
- Material
- Paper