Title: Haiga Makimono (Haiku Painting Scroll), 1680-1707. A Calligraphical Scroll with Ten Paintings, by Matsuo Basho’s Prized Disciple
Author: Attributed to Takarai Kikaku
Condition: Very Good
An Early to Mid Edo Period, late 17th to early 18th century handscroll, dubbed Haiga Makimono, or Haiku Painting Scroll. The manuscript is a calligraphical scroll with various haikus, each complimented by one of ten paintings of various home scenes.
This scroll of poetry and paintings has been attributed to the haiku poet Takarai Kikaku (1661-1707), with his signature at the end.
Born in the Early Edo Period, he was son of the physician Takeshita Tojun but chose to pursue the path of poetry instead of his father’s medical footsteps. He studied calligraphy with Sasaki Genryu, painting with Ei Iccho, and Confucianism with Hattori Kansai. Later, he became a disciple of Basho and developed a style of witty haiku that vividly describes the lives of ordinary people. Kikaku set the tone for haikai from Basho's death until the time of Yosa Buson in the late 18th century and is considered one of the Ten Philosophers of Basho. He died in 1707 (Hoei 4) at the age of 47.
The paintings have been laid down and bound in a scroll for preservation, with a beautiful brocade decorated cover, and there are jikusaki (knobs) made of wood. The handscroll is enclosed in a wooden box.
One brocade bound emakimono (picture scroll) on paper, 29.5 x 430 cm. The knobs are not included as part of the measurement.
This emakimono is in very good shape, with minimal wear and rubbing to the brocade fabric. There are a few crease marks and a couple of repaired worm tracks, and one fold mark with two small tape repairs. There is minor soiling and staining.