Rats and Rice Bales
Terms of Use
Creative CommonsAt A Glance
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Period
1843 -
Geography
Japan -
Material
Ink and color on silk -
Dimension
H x W (image): 91.5 × 30 cm (36 × 11 13/16 in) -
Accession Number
F1904.132 -
EDAN ID
edanmdm:fsg_F1904.132
Object Details
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Artist
Katsushika Hokusai 葛飾北斎 (1760-1849) -
Label
Rice bales are traditional emblems of wealth in pictures of the popular god Daikoku, one of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune. Daikoku is not shown, but his association with this symbol of wealth, which he usually protects, may be one of many meanings embedded in this unusual picture. Perhaps it represents the fragility of accumulated wealth or possibly competition for survival among social groups or classes. This image may have expressed such meanings more vividly in the aftermath of the devastating Tenpo famine (1833-36). -
Provenance
To 1904Michael Tomkinson (1841-1921), Kidderminster, England, to 1904 [1]From 1904 to 1919Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Michael Tomkinson in 1904 [2]From 1920Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]Notes:[1] See Original Kakemono List, L. 433, pg. 115, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.[2] See note 1.[3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery. -
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection -
Exhibition History
Hokusai: Mad About Painting (November 20, 2019 to January 9, 2022)Hokusai (October 25, 2005 to May 14, 2006) -
Previous custodian or owner
Michael Tomkinson (1841-1921) (C.L. Freer source)Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919) -
Origin
Japan -
Credit Line
Gift of Charles Lang Freer -
Type
Painting -
Restrictions and Rights
CC0 - Creative Commons (CC0 1.0)
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