忠臣蔵三段目|Chushingura Act III

Kitagawa Utamaro

ca. 1800 · Woodblock print; ink and color on paper · Asian Art

Utamaro uses the "E-kyodai" format here also to combine two scenes to humorous effect. Although both scenes in this work depict physical conflicts, they are conflicts of a radically different character. The upper cartouche contains a scene from "Chushingura," one of the most popular Kabuki plays, in which one feudal lord attacks another with a sword within the confines of Edo Castle, a grave breach of decorum that will lead to dire consequences. The conflict in the larger image, however, is merely a domestic love quarrel in which a man attempts to hit his nagging wife with a piece of kitchen equipment. In the spirit of jocular parody, Utamaro likens this petty household turmoil to the great tragic political drama "Chushingura."

Artist

Kitagawa Utamaro

Date

ca. 1800

Medium

Woodblock print; ink and color on paper

Culture

Japan

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Gift of Estate of Samuel Isham, 1914