伊藤若冲の「釈迦三尊像」を楽しむ。 Enjoy Ito Jakuchu's "Shaka Sanson Statue".

江戸時代に活躍した絵師、伊藤若冲の人気はいまも衰えるどころか、今年も各地で展覧会が予定されている。
もともと若冲人気に火が付いたのが、2006年に東京国立博物館で開催された、アメリカ人収集家ジョー・プライス氏のコレクションから成る「プライスコレクション『若冲と江戸絵画』展」。そして若冲生誕300年を記念した、2016年の東京都美術館の「生誕300年記念 若冲展」において人気が頂点に達した。

The popularity of Ito Jakuchu, a painter who was active in the Edo period, is still declining, and exhibitions are planned in various places this year as well.
Originally, the popularity of Jakuchu was ignited by the "Price Collection" Jakuchu and Edo Paintings "Exhibition", which was held at the Tokyo National Museum in 2006 and consists of the collection of American collector Joe Price. And, in commemoration of the 300th anniversary of Jakuchu's birth, the popularity reached its peak at the "300th Anniversary of Jakuchu Exhibition" at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum in 2016.

さらに、今年のNHKの正月ドラマとして、絵師を取り上げた「ライジング若冲」というタイトルでドラマ化され、若冲役の歌舞伎役者中村七之助と、若冲に寄り添った僧侶役の永山瑛太の共演が話題を呼び、若冲の人物像が浮き彫りにされ身近な存在につながったのは間違いない。

Furthermore, as this year's NHK New Year drama, it was made into a drama with the title "Rising Jakuchu" featuring a painter, and the co-starring of Kabuki actor Nakamura Shichinosuke, who played the role of Jakuchu, and Eita Nagayama, who played the role of a priest who was close to Jakuchu, became a hot topic. There is no doubt that Jakuchu's portrait was highlighted and led to a familiar presence.

若冲の代表作といえば、やはり「動植綵絵」30幅だろう。多種多様の動植物がさまざまな色彩と形態で表現され、綿密な写生に基づきながら、その画面にはどことなく幻想的な雰囲気が漂う華麗な作品である。また、当時の最高品質の画絹や絵具を惜しみなく使用したため、200年以上たった現在でも保存状態が良く、褪色も少ない。

Speaking of Jakuchu's masterpiece, it is probably 30 widths of "Doshokusaie". A wide variety of animals and plants are expressed in various colors and forms, and while based on detailed sketches, the screen is a splendid work with a somewhat fantastic atmosphere. In addition, due to the generous use of the highest quality paints and paints of the time, it is still well preserved and has little fading even after more than 200 years.

生誕30年記念の若冲展に、その「動植綵絵」30幅と同時公開されたのが仏画の「釈迦三尊図」。お寺に出向いては模写していた中で、高麗仏画と思われる「釈迦三尊像」に感動し、原図に忠実に模写した作品。ただし、若冲は模写した原本の劣化を防ぐために衣紋線(輪郭線)や色彩のコントラストを強調し装飾的な絵に仕上げた。だから、見てのとおり色彩も鮮やかに残っている。

At the Jakuchu exhibition commemorating the 30th anniversary of his birth, the Buddhist painting "Shakasanzonzu" was released at the same time as the "Doshokusae" 30 width. While Jakuchu went to the temple and copied it, he was impressed by the "Shakasanzon statue", which seems to be a Goryeo Buddhist painting, and faithfully copied it to the original drawing. However, Jakuchu emphasized the clothing pattern (outline) and color contrast to prevent deterioration of the copied original, and finished it as a decorative painting. Therefore, as you can see, the colors remain vivid.

文殊菩薩像［もんじゅぼさつぞう］：獅子に乗る文殊菩薩。　　　　　　　　　　　　　普賢菩薩像［ふげんぼさつぞう］：6牙の白象に乗る普賢菩薩。
相国寺承天閣美術館 所蔵

Manjushri Bodhisattva [Monjubosatsuzo]: A Buddhist Bodhisattva riding a lion.
Fugen Bodhisattva statue [Fugen Bodhisattva]: Samantabhadra riding a 6-tusk white elephant.

Collection of Shokokuji Jotenkaku Museum