Shotei produced a wide range of subjects throughout his career under publishers Watanabe and Daikokuya. Signed, sealed lifetime editions consistently outperform unsigned export-market copies.
Two Japanese men are engaged in the traditional game of darts — possibly the board game fukuwarai or a festival dart-throwing game — under the illumination of paper lanterns at night. The night setting and [bokashi](/glossary/bokashi) treatment create an atmosphere of festive leisure, the lantern light casting the two players in warm isolation against the surrounding darkness. Shotei's depiction of men at play rather than at work or in motion was relatively unusual in his figure work, and the night setting gives the image an intimate, observed quality.
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
two Japanese men playing darts at night was created by Takahashi Shotei (高橋松亭).
two Japanese men playing darts at night uses Bokashi, on woodblock print.
two Japanese men playing darts at night was published by Watanabe Shozaburo.
two Japanese men playing darts at night depicts music and night scenes.
