Act 5 (Godanme), from the series "The Revenge of the Loyal Retainers (Chushingura)"
c. 1834/39
Medium
Color woodblock print; oban
Dimensions
25.6 × 36.5 cm (10 1/16 × 14 3/8 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
33760
Art Historical Context
In the vibrant world of 19th-century Japanese ukiyo-e, Utagawa Hirosh's *Act 5 (Godanme), from the seriesThe Revenge of the Loyalainers (Chushingura* (c. 1834–39) captures a dramatic moment from one of Japan's most beloved kabuki plays. Printed in lush colors on oban-sized paper (25.6 × 36.5 cm), this woodblock print exemplifiesshige's skill in depicting theatrical scenes, blending his mastery of composition—seen in his famed landscapes—with the dynamic energy of actor portraits. *Chushingura*, or "Treasury of Loyal Retainers," dramatizes the true story of the 47 ronin, samurai who avenged th...
About the Artist
Utagawa Hiroshige · 1826–1869
Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858), born Andō Tokutarō, was the last great master of Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock printmaking and one of the most influential landscape artists in history. Born in Edo (modern Tokyo) into a low-ranking samurai family serving as fire wardens, Hiroshige transformed landscape printmaking into a poetic meditation on nature, weather, and everyday life. His revolutionary approac...