Artist's Tale - Esinoshi

A picture scroll depicting an anecdote about a poor painter. The painter was appointed as the governor of Iyo and gathered his family to hold a celebration, but the joy was short-lived as his land had been taken by someone else and he was left with no tax to pay. In an attempt to somehow revive his family, he appealed to his superior at Hoshoji Temple, who was the magistrate for painting, but to no avail. The family became poorer and poorer, and finally the painter enrolled his son in a Shingon Buddhist temple and aspired to become a Buddhist himself. This is a pathetic yet humorous story. The painting makes use of thick lines to exaggerate the faces and figures of the characters, but is full of realistic power. Created in the Kamakura period (14th century), the rustic style of the painting leaves a strong impression. Imperial property.

[Yasushi Murashige]

"The Complete Collection of Japanese Picture Scrolls 11" (1977, Chuokoron-Shinsha) "The Complete Collection of Newly Revised Japanese Picture Scrolls 18" (1979, Kadokawa Shoten)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

ある貧しい絵師に関する逸話を描いた絵巻。伊予守(いよのかみ)に任ぜられた絵師が一族を集めて祝宴を開いたが、喜びもつかのま、領地は他人にとられて年貢もないありさまである。なんとか家を興そうと、絵の奉行(ぶぎょう)をしている法勝寺(ほっしょうじ)の上司にすがってみたが、らちがあかない。家はますます貧しくなり、ついに息子を真言宗の寺に入れ、自分も仏道に志すという物語を、哀れに、またユーモラスに描いている。絵は太めの描線を駆使し、人物の顔や姿態を誇張的にとらえているが、現実的な迫力に富む。鎌倉時代（14世紀）の制作で、野趣のある画風が印象的である。御物。

［村重　寧］

『『日本絵巻大成11』（1977・中央公論社）』▽『『新修日本絵巻物全集18』（1979・角川書店）』

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