Accession Number
1961/1.174

Title
Scholarly Occupations and The Three Friends (Pine, Plum, Bamboo)

Artist(s)
Ikeno Taiga

Object Creation Date
18th century

Medium & Support
one of a pair of 6-fold screens, ink on paper

Dimensions
54 1/4 in. x 19 3/4 in. ( 137.8 cm x 50.17 cm )

Credit Line
Museum purchase made possible by the Margaret Watson Parker Art Collection Fund

Subject matter
The six panels show scholarly occupations and the "three friends" of pine, plum, and bamboo. The scholarly occupations could potentially be traveling (with the five individuals in the first panel), art as shown in the second panel, and perhaps literature as depicted in the sixth and final panel. 

Physical Description
The first panel depicts 5 individuals. The oldest person is centered in the middle with two younger people above him, with the one on the right holding what appears to be a cane or stick. The old man looks to be carrying the two individuals. Below him are much younger individuals both appearing to hang onto the older individual. The one on the left is grabbing his leg while the right individual appears to grab his midsection. In the left corner is a pot fallen on its side. The upper left includes an inscription in black and red ink. 
The second panel is of 2 individuals, one appearing to paint on a piece of pottery while the other individual watches. 
The third panel shows a plum tree with a small red inscription on the left.
The fourth panel is of bamboo with a small inscription in red ink to the bottom right. 
The fifth panel depicts a pine tree with a faint mountain in the background.
The sixth panel depicts one man with a bun and an inscription on the upper left. The man appears to be holding a large object, potentially a scroll. 

Primary Object Classification
Painting

Primary Object Type
screen

Additional Object Classification(s)
Painting

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
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Keywords
Figures
Japan
abstraction
bamboo
child
pines
plum tree
screen