Untitled

Katsukawa Shun'ei 勝川春英

1796 · Woodblock print; ink and color on paper · Asian Art

In a scene from Bird of the Capital: Komachi of the East (Miyakodori Azuma Komachi), Shun'ei portrays the holy hermit Narukami in the climactic moment when he discovers that Princess Taema (not depicted here) has released a rain dragon that he had imprisoned below a waterfall. In his rage, Narukami flips back the top part of his white robes to reveal a different costume, patterned with angry flames. But, having been seduced by the princess, Narukami had lost his magical power and was not able to stop the rain.

Artist

Katsukawa Shun'ei 勝川春英

Date

1796

Medium

Woodblock print; ink and color on paper

Culture

Japan

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Gift of Estate of Samuel Isham, 1914