Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art

About this Work

The theme of the surimono is the evanescence of life.The occasion for its prodction was the anniversity of the death of Azuma Tōzō, a kabuki actor known through his haiku name, Enshi, who died on June 19th, 1789 at the age of 42. His wife, son, younger brother, and friends each compsoed haikus to express their abiding grief. Enshi was clearly aware of his impending death because he had composed a farewell poem. There is also an introductory statement by Enshi's brother. Hokusai's task was to combine a large verbal component into a composition that would not compromise his identity as an artist. He chose a group of objects—the firefly cage, fans, and a cluster of flowering Sweet William—all suggestive of a quiet summer evening as well as of the transiency of life.