Suntory Museum of Art
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Notable Works
Hie Sannō Festival and Gion Festival

Notable Works

Paintings

Hie Sannō Festival and Gion Festival

Important cultural property

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Artist: Tosa Mitsumochi
Number of components: Pair of six-panel folding screens
Format and materials: Color on paper
Dimensions (in cm): L. 122.4, W. 297.0 (each)
Date of production: Muromachi period 16th century

Two different festivals are depicted in this pair of screens. One half of the screen shows a procession of boats carrying the mikoshi shrine on Lake Biwa during the Hie Sannō Festival in Shiga Prefecture. The other half depicts the Gion Festival at Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto. The skilful depiction of the procession of festival floats and mikoshi shrines is based on the customs of the time. The style of the portrayal of the expressions and the figures of the animated crowds suggests the work of Tosa Mitsumochi and his studio. This is one of the oldest examples of a folding screen depicting a festival and is a pioneering masterpiece of genre painting.

Notable Works

Hie Sannō Festival and Gion Festival

SUNTORY MUSEUM of ART