Portrait of Ōzora Buzaemon1827 · Study 1980.177

Context from the museum

Over seven feet tall, Ōzora Buzaemon became a tabloid sensation when he arrived in Edo (Tokyo) in 1827 . His handprints were cherished souvenirs, and his image was sold on woodblock prints. As inscriptions on the scroll detail, Watanabe Kazan met Buzaemon at the residence of a noted Confucian scholar. Using a camera obscura–type device—a tool that uses light to project an image onto a surface—he made this preliminary drawing for a painting. The portrayal depicts Buzaemon’s discomfort in being stared at.

Museum description reproduced from its CC0 open-access record. Read the original catalog entry.

A detail to notice

Watanabe Kazan was interested in Rangaku (Dutch Learning).

Observation supplied by the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Read the dimensions before the image

The selected image measurement for Portrait of Ōzora Buzaemon is 117.8 cm wide and 221.8 cm high, equivalent to approximately 46.4 × 87.3 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 0.53:1. The rectangular bounding area is 2.61 square meters; it describes the measured footprint, not the amount of paint or the monetary value.

On an illustrative 300 cm wall, the recorded width occupies 39.3% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 91.1 cm on each side before adding a frame. These are calculations by Physical Art For Crypto using museum measurements. They are not the museum’s display recommendations.

Questions to bring to your own collection

With Portrait of Ōzora Buzaemon in view, identify one feature you can point to, then distinguish what the museum records from your personal response. Keep its medium, hanging scroll; ink and color on paper, in your notes when comparing contemporary works.

• Which part of this vertical composition catches your eye first?
• Would a 117.8 cm width still suit the space after allowing for furniture and a frame?
• What surface detail would you need to see in person or in a close photograph?