Description
Chinese classical education consisted of the Six Arts: performing rites, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and mathematics. The Chinese qin, a stringed musical instrument in the zither family, customarily symbolizes the art of music. In this print a similar Japanese instrument, the koto, replaces the qin. The fashionable Japanese entertainer playing it stands in for an accomplished Chinese scholar.
Provenance
Ronald Guthrie McNair Scott [1904 or 1906–1995], consigned to Glendining & Co for sale; (Glendining & Co., London, England, April 1, 1960 sale, lot 46) (April 1, 1960); Hans Popper [1904–1971], consigned to Sotheby Parke Bernet for sale (?–1972); (Sotheby Parke Bernet, New York, NY. "The Hans Popper collection of Japanese prints," October 5, 1972 sale, lot 142) (October 5, 1972); Eugene V. Thaw [1927–2018], New York, NY, to Kelvin and Eleanor Smith; The Kelvin Smith Collection, Cleveland, OH, given by Mrs. Kelvin [Eleanor Armstrong] Smith [1899–1998] to the Cleveland Museum of Art (?–1985); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (1985–)
Accession Number
1985.301
Medium
Color woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Dimensions
Sheet: 36.6 x 25 cm (14 7/16 x 9 13/16 in.)
Classification
Credit Line
The Kelvin Smith Collection, given by Mrs. Kelvin Smith
