Women Entertainers with Instruments

Takamatsu Katsutaro (b.1884)

Women Entertainers with Musical Instruments

Signed: Senrei/Chimine and sealed

Pair of scrolls, (panels, fusuma, or kabe-e mounted as scrolls); ink and color on silk

Woman with Flute: H. 51 ½”x W. 25 ¼” (133 x 64.2cm)

Woman with Drum: H. 51” x W. 24 ¾” (129.5 x 63 cm)

Senrei was born on the 29th of May, 1884 in Fukuoka Prefecture with the familiar name of Katsutaro, Kasataro or Masataro. He apparently made his way to Tokyo as a young man to study at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts under Kobori Tomone (1864-1931), a man who held many important positions in the Tokyo art world and specialized in historical and warlike subjects.

What little information we have at this time regarding Senrei says that he specialized in landscapes and Nihonga. It seems quite possible that these paintings, depicting young women in sensual, provocative poses, might have been done for an establishment in one of Tokyo’s entertainment districts, perhaps Shinagawa or the Yoshiwara. Since the life of a young art student could be difficult and we know little of Senrei’s family resources, it could be that he painted them in barter for some type of sustenance. The disheveled hair, the shakuhachi or flute usually meant as a sexual innuendo, the open mouth exposing the teeth, are all indications that these ladies are perhaps not ordinary human beings but spirits in disguise. Foxes, herons and snakes were popular in the folklore of this era and were thought to be capable of transforming themselves into human form, usually in the body of a beautiful women.

It is likely the paintings were originally mounted on fusuma doors. As scrolls, remnants from a striking kimono are used to highlight the paintings. Taisho/Showa period kimono with such bold patterns were often worn by popular entertainers of the day.