Mitate-Nana-Yakushi / 見立て七薬師　#3/20

■About the Works Mitate-e is a type of painting in which, upon close inspection, different meanings can be gleaned from the pose or motif. It was popular during the Edo period.
This painting of a courtesan and six bald women is meant to represent the Seven Medicine Gods.
Yakushi Nyorai is often enshrined as one of the Seven Yakushi Buddhas, with six or seven smaller Yakushi Nyorai statues surrounding the main image.

In her left hand the courtesan in the center is holding a medicine jar, which symbolizes Yakushi Nyorai.
The ring finger on the right hand extending forward also represents "Medicine."
In the Edo period, it was believed that the tobacco smoked by courtesans had medicinal properties, so courtesans smoked to protect themselves from sexually transmitted diseases.
The kimono's motif is the "Four Gentlemen" motif of orchid, bamboo, plum, and chrysanthemum, which has long been believed to ward off evil and disease in China.

The masks, face guards, and ventilation fans worn by the bald men around the courtesan represent the various medical equipment and protective gear used during the coronavirus pandemic.
The black beans that the bald man is about to feed to the courtesan have the meaning of a wish that the beans will grow into good beans, and are also used in New Year's cuisine.
The pattern on the bald men's kimonos is nandina, an auspicious motif based on the wordplay on the phrase "turning misfortune into trouble."
The hairstyles of the bald men are a mix of those from old ukiyo-e prints of various eras.
The ribbons on the bald men's sleeves are both decorative and restraining devices so that the bald men's hands can be quickly tied and punished.
Along with the mask, I drew it as a symbol of the restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This original canvas was painted in 2020 in the hope that the chaos caused by the COVID-19 pandemic would subside, and also in the hope of good health and the eradication of disease, which are universal human desires.

■ Original Artwork Information
Materials: acrylic, gold leaf
Support / Support: canvas
Size: 133.5×227cm
Date / Production year: 2020

■Product property production limit: 20
Serial number: 3/20
Secondary content distribution: Authorized royalty rate: 18%
Minimum royalty: 4500 yen Editing: Permitted Cut and paste: Permitted

*This is a sale of digital works generated from the original artwork.
We are not selling original artwork or lithographs.