Untitled

Yokogawa Horitake|Utagawa Kuniyoshi

1852 · Woodblock print; ink and color on paper · Asian Art

The samurai in this print wears a jacket and chest protector similar in form to the two exhibited here. He is Oboshi Yuranosuke, the hero of The Treasury of Loyal Retainers (Chushingura), a beloved play that became an influential part of Edo popular culture. Based on a historical event, Chushingura tells the story of forty-seven loyal retainers whose lord was goaded into impropriety by an associate and then forced to commit ritual suicide. The retainers, led by Yuranosuke, bide their time and finally take revenge. Yuranosuke is seen here in the final act of the play after the entire group has attacked the residence of the former associate and avenged their lord's death. The banner Yuranosuke carries commemorates one of the retainers, Hayano Kanpei, who died in the attack.

Artist

Yokogawa Horitake|Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Date

1852

Medium

Woodblock print; ink and color on paper

Culture

Japan

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Fletcher Fund, 1929