Otogoze (Otafuku) Hanging Scroll Painting of a Woman

 Otogoze (Otafuku) Scroll 

乙御前 Otogoze

It seems to refer to the masks of Otafuku and ugly women used in Kyogen(狂言). Because it is a Kyogen mask, it seems a bit more comical and familiar than Noh masks (能面).

Box front: 抱一筆  乙御前 “Otogoze” painted by Hoitsu

Box side: イ抱一お(多)福 “E” Hoitsu Otafuku

<Artist Biography>

【酒井 抱一】Sakai Hoitsu (1761-1828)

 He was a Rimpa-school (琳派) painter, born into a high-ranking warrior family. He had interact with some painters of different painting style, including Kano-school (狩野派), Nannpin-school (南蘋派) from his childhood. He studied painting under Toyohatu Utagawa (歌川豊春) and he drew splendid Bijin-ga (美人画: a painting of beautiful women) in his 20’s. Then, he became aware of the style of Rimpa in his 30’s. He devoted himself to study Rimpa. He had no his master, so he established his own style while he incorporated the styles of Sotatsu Tawaraya (俵屋宗達) and KorinOgata (尾形光琳).