The Dance Continues — Japanese Shikishi, May 1946

Japanese work in ink and color on an old cardboard shikishi, dated May 1946.

Three child figures in traditional costumes and broad woven hats are connected with Japanese folk dance culture. The visual language is close to the tradition of dōga and professional Japanese children’s illustration of the 1930s–40s, associated with artists such as Takeo Takei, Shigeru Hatsuyama, Tai Yasu, and Takeshi Motai.

The precise date, May 1946, gives the work an unusual historical dimension. Folk dance, traditional costume, and child figures bring an older cultural form together with an image of its continuation during Japan’s first postwar year.

The handwritten inscription dates the work to the 21st year of Shōwa, May 1946. A name beside the date most likely reads Taeko.

Size: 24 × 27 cm.

Condition consistent with age, with natural darkening of the board and traces of long-term storage. Please examine the photos carefully. Photographs are part of the condition description.

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