Artisans in Straw

Reproduction from a set of paintings called “Shokunin ezukushi” (職人絵尽/A Collection of Pictures of Artisans), which consists of 24 pieces, painted on screens, which are kept in the Kitain (喜多院; temple) at Kawagoe, in Saitama Prefecture. The paintings are attributed to Tosa Mitsuoki (土佐光起), who was appointed “Sakon-Shogen” early in the era of Genroku and made Chief of the Painting Bureau.

Vertically rectangular multicoloured print depicting the shed and yard of a straw worker, who reclines on his porch surrounded by baskets, mats and the tools of his trade. A woman walks towards him carrying a basket of food and a bucket of water. Vines of ivy wind around the thatched roof and a tree in the background is covered with red flowers.