Tartars Playing Polo - Kano Eisen'in Furunobu

A dynamic depiction of a polo match by Kano Eisen'in Furunobu, featuring riders in motion framed by decorative screens.

This work by Kano Eisen'in Furunobu depicts a dynamic scene of polo, a sport with deep roots in Central Asian equestrian traditions. The composition features riders mounted on horses, engaged in the pursuit of a ball across a neutral, expansive background. The figures are rendered with the characteristic precision of the Kano school, which dominated Japanese painting for centuries. The artist employs a balanced arrangement, placing the riders in various states of motion to suggest the speed and energy of the match.

To the left and right, decorative screens frame the action, providing a sense of enclosure and structure to the otherwise open field. These architectural elements, painted with attention to detail, contrast with the fluid, energetic postures of the horses and their riders. The colour palette remains restrained, relying on muted earth tones for the background, which allows the specific hues of the riders' garments and the red accents of the goal markers to emerge clearly.

Kano Eisen'in Furunobu, a member of the influential Kano family of painters, demonstrates here the school's ability to adapt traditional techniques to diverse subject matter. The depiction of foreign subjects, such as the Tartars, reflects an interest in exotic themes that appeared periodically in Japanese art. The brushwork is controlled, focusing on the clarity of form and the rhythmic repetition of the horses' limbs to convey the intensity of the competition. This print captures the historical intersection of sport and art, offering a view into a cultural practice that bridged different regions and eras. The work functions as a study of movement and composition, maintaining a sense of order despite the chaotic nature of the game being played.