diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/container.py b/lib/matplotlib/container.py
index 3a3783d7332a..4f91e3824d03 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/container.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/container.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
+from matplotlib.artist import Artist
 import matplotlib.cbook as cbook
-import matplotlib.artist as martist
 
 
 class Container(tuple):
@@ -18,84 +18,30 @@ def __new__(cls, *args, **kwargs):
         return tuple.__new__(cls, args[0])
 
     def __init__(self, kl, label=None):
-
         self.eventson = False  # fire events only if eventson
         self._oid = 0  # an observer id
         self._propobservers = {}  # a dict from oids to funcs
-
         self._remove_method = None
-
         self.set_label(label)
 
     def remove(self):
         for c in cbook.flatten(
-                self, scalarp=lambda x: isinstance(x, martist.Artist)):
+                self, scalarp=lambda x: isinstance(x, Artist)):
             if c is not None:
                 c.remove()
 
         if self._remove_method:
             self._remove_method(self)
 
-    def get_label(self):
-        """
-        Get the label used for this artist in the legend.
-        """
-        return self._label
-
-    def set_label(self, s):
-        """
-        Set the label to *s* for auto legend.
-
-        Parameters
-        ----------
-        s : object
-            Any object other than None gets converted to its `str`.
-        """
-        if s is not None:
-            self._label = str(s)
-        else:
-            self._label = None
-        self.pchanged()
-
-    def add_callback(self, func):
-        """
-        Adds a callback function that will be called whenever one of
-        the :class:`Artist`'s properties changes.
-
-        Returns an *id* that is useful for removing the callback with
-        :meth:`remove_callback` later.
-        """
-        oid = self._oid
-        self._propobservers[oid] = func
-        self._oid += 1
-        return oid
-
-    def remove_callback(self, oid):
-        """
-        Remove a callback based on its *id*.
-
-        .. seealso::
-
-            :meth:`add_callback`
-               For adding callbacks
-
-        """
-        try:
-            del self._propobservers[oid]
-        except KeyError:
-            pass
-
-    def pchanged(self):
-        """
-        Fire an event when property changed, calling all of the
-        registered callbacks.
-        """
-        for oid, func in list(self._propobservers.items()):
-            func(self)
-
     def get_children(self):
         return [child for child in cbook.flatten(self) if child is not None]
 
+    get_label = Artist.get_label
+    set_label = Artist.set_label
+    add_callback = Artist.add_callback
+    remove_callback = Artist.remove_callback
+    pchanged = Artist.pchanged
+
 
 class BarContainer(Container):
     """