Hokai-bushi
ORLIK, Emil (1870-1932)

EMIL ORLÍK 1870-1932
Prague 1870 – 1932 Berlin (Czech)

Title: Hokai-bushi, 1900

Technique: Original Hand Signed Watercolour on Wove Paper

Paper size: 20 x 19.3 cm. / 7.9 x 7.6 in.

Additional Information: This watercolour is hand signed twice pencil by the artist “Orlík” at the lower right margin.
It is also dated 1900.
The work is from one of the artist’s sketchbooks.

Note:
The term Hokai-bushi is a corruption of a Buddhist term meaning ‘universal’ and came to be used to describe street musicians performing for crowds and entering local shops. The main figure plays a ‘gekkin’ which is akin to the Chinese Moon Guitar and is an essential part of this musical troupe. The watercolour is likely to have been painted on the artist’s long anticipated visit to Japan via Hong Kong in 1900.

Condition: Very good condition. Time-staining around the image. Remnants of hinging along the upper and right sheet edges.