Japan, Muromachi period (1392–1573) / mid-1400s
The Story of Fukutomi
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs The Story of Fukutomi as painting (Japan, Muromachi period (1392–1573) · mid-1400s).
This scroll is treasured as the second oldest surviving version of this story.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this painting as Handscroll; ink and color on paper.
The museum's collection notes: This handscroll shows the second half of an odd tale in which a ne’er-do-well seeks the path to quick fortune and learns the art of musical flatulence. Prior to a major performance, a mentor (and competitor) advises him to consume morning glory seeds, a laxative. Thus, while performing he fouls himself and ends his days in humiliation. The audacious nature of this story and its presentation—well-animated figures with dialogue adjacent to the appropriate moments of action—create a primitive graphic novel. Japanese visual humor about farting preceded this story, but the satirical, mean-spirited twist in this tale suggests its intent was not mer
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtThe Story of FukutomiOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.