OTSU-E - POPULAR JAPANESE FOLK PAINTINGS

This genre of folk painting contains themes that range from wishes for good luck, happiness and prosperity to warnings about correct social behavior and attitudes. The paintings are at once frivolous, light-hearted and disarming, providing an amusing blend of auspicious symbols and social commentary. As such, they are at once delightful works of art and valuable cultural documents.

The name Otsu-e is derived from the place where these paintings were sold, in and around the post town of Otsu, which lay on the Tokaido Road running between Edo (present day Tokyo) and Kyoto. Shops in Otsu sold these paintings as souvenirs to passing travelers. The paintings in this collection are duplicates from the Pacific Asia Museum and were formerly in the collection of Manly P. Hall.

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Download a flyer of the original Otsu-e paintings available for purchase.

	Thunder God and Drum (Kaminari to taiko), Otsu-e, ink and colors on paper scroll, 59 x 25 cm (23 x 10 inches), Paper size: 72 x 25 cm, Early-Mid 20th century.		Goblin Taking a Bath (Oni no gyozui), Otsu-e, ink and colors on paper scroll, 43 x 24 cm (17 x 10 inches), Paper size: 72 x 25 cm, Early-Mid 20th century.
	Daikoku Shaving Fukurokuju on a Ladder (Geho no hashigozori), Otsu-e, ink and colors on paper scroll, 33 x 25 cm (13 x 10 inches), Paper size: 72 x 25 cm, Early-Mid 20th century.		Blind Man and Dog (Zato), Otsu-e, ink and colors on paper scroll, 38 x 25 cm (15 x 10 inches), Paper size: 72 x 25 cm, Early-Mid 20th century.
	Benkei with Seven Weapons (Naginata Benkei), Otsu-e, ink and colors on paper scroll, 43 x 25 cm (17 x 10 inches), Paper size: 72 x 25 cm, Early-Mid 20th century.		Spear Bearer (Yarimochi yakko), Otsu-e, ink and colors on paper scroll, 43 x 25 cm (17 x 10 inches), Paper size: 72 x 25 cm, Early-Mid 20th century.
	Wisteria Maiden (Fuji musume), Otsu-e, ink and colors on paper scroll, 43 x 25 cm (17 x 10 inches), Paper size: 72 x 25 cm, Early-Mid 20th century.		Monkey Trying to Catch a Catfish with a Gourd (Hyotan namazu), Otsu-e, ink and colors on paper scroll, 43 x 25 cm (17 x 10 inches), Paper size: 72 x 25 cm, Early-Mid 20th century.
	Praying Goblin (Oni no nenbutsu), Otsu-e, ink and colors on paper scroll, 43 x 24 cm (17 x 10 inches), Paper size: 72 x 25 cm, Early-Mid 20th century.