%C2%A9 Torii Kotondo
Abe no Yasuna (Spring), Spring 1938
Torii Kotondoexpand_more
Hanging scroll; ink and color on paperexpand_more
Gift of funds from Ellen Wellsexpand_more 2014.36
Not on Viewexpand_more
This work refers to a kabuki dance about the 10th-century nobleman Abe no Yasuna. As a young man, Yasuna became engaged to Sakaki-no-mae, the beautiful daughter of the famous astronomer Kamo no Yasunori. Unfortunately the astronomer died and Sakaki-no-mae was driven to commit suicide by her cruel step-mother. Yasuna went mad with grief and, as in this painting, he began to wear Sakaki-no-mae's beautiful short-sleeved silk robe and a purple headband (a symbol for insanity), wandering aimlessly in the countryside during spring. Mentally mixing his past happiness with his present sorrow, he dreams that the robe is Sakaki-no-mae herself, but in the end he sadly realizes it is an illusion.
Details
- Title
- Abe no Yasuna (Spring)
- Artist Life
- 1900 - 1976
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2014.36
- Curator Approved
This record is from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator, so may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
Does something look wrong with this image? Let us know
© Torii Kotondo