{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O92976"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O92976/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2013GD9502/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2013GD9502/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2013GD9502","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006BC9293","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006BD0856","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O92976/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O92976","accessionNumber":"D.1375-1897","objectType":"Watercolour","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Although drawn some time after such an event could have possibly been seen, the eccentric late 19th-century artist Kawanabe Kyosai has superbly depicted the anomalous state of the samurai in the late Edo period (1600-1868). The contrast between the character of the old samurai viewing the spring cherry-blossom in full armour, accompanied by his dog and enjoying a good meal provided by a plain serving girl in provincial clothes, and the samurai in <i>kamishimo</i>(sleeveless jacket and trousers) accompanied by a younger samurai attendant, is clearly depicted. \r\n\r\nThe drawing is entitled <i>Pictorial Representations of Popular Sayings</i>. The caption beside the tree reads ‘Cherry blossom is the best flower’; beside the younger samurai ‘The warrior is the best form of man’ and beside the elderly samurai ‘Dango [dumplings] rather than cherry blossom’.","physicalDescription":"Japanese coloured ink painting of a samurai in full armour, accompanied by his dog, enjoying a meal. On the right there is a cherry-blossom viewing and on the foreground there is a samurai in formal clothing, accompanied by a younger samurai attendant.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Kawanabe Kyosai","id":"A7682"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"ink","id":"AAT15012"},{"text":"watercolour","id":"AAT15045"},{"text":"paper","id":"AAT14109"}],"techniques":[{"text":"watercolour painting","id":"THES250889"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Coloured ink and paper","categories":[{"text":"Paintings","id":"THES48917"}],"styles":[{"text":"Meiji","id":"x36308"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2013GD9502","2006BC9293","2006BD0856"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"008","id":"THES394074"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Painting","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Japan","id":"x29399"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1865-1875","earliest":"1865-01-01","latest":"1875-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Purchased from Christie's, accessioned in 1897. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Watercolour, coloured ink and paper, by Kawanabe Kyōsai, Japan, ca. 1865-1875","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["D.1375-1897"],"accessionNumberNum":"1375","accessionNumberPrefix":"D","accessionYear":1897,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-06-24","recordCreationDate":"2004-02-13","availableToBook":true}}