Three Tasters of Bitter Sake (Sake kumi no san shoku)

Artist Okumura Masanobu 奥村政信 (Japanese, 1686–1764)

Dateabout 1710

MediumWoodblock print; ink no paper; sumizuri-e

Dimensions28.6 x 41.9 cm (11 1/4 x 16 1/2 in.)

ClassificationsPrints

MarkingsPublisher: ? needs to be identified-Yokoyama ….chome; Fujiya; with round seal with the character for ue/kami

Credit LineJohn Chandler Bancroft Collection

Terms

Object number1901.59.2225

DescriptionHorizontal oban (oban yoko-e)
Label TextA parody on the legend of the three wine tasters Roshi (Lao Tzu), Shaka (Buddha) and Koshi (Confucius), one of whom found it sweet, one sour, and one bitter. Here seated around an enormous cup of sake, on the floor of a dwelling, are a young Japanese man, the nude giant Asahina Saburo (the mythical Hercules of Japan) with hairy body and beard, and a high-ranking courtesan. The latter is laughing and holds up her sleeve to hide her mouth while the giant, with open mouth and bulging eyes, gazes in wonder at the sight of such a huge supply of drink.

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