Hakoomaru (Soga no Goro), from the series "Illustrated Tale of the Soga Brothers (Soga monogatari zue)"
c. 1843/47
Medium
Color woodblock print; oban
Dimensions
35.2 × 24.7 cm (13 7/8 × 9 3/4 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
34454
Art Historical Context
Behold the dramatic woodblock print *Hakoomaru (Soga no Goro)* Utagawa Hiroshige's seriesIllustrated Tale of theoga Brothers (Soga monogatari zue)*, created around 1843–47. Hiroshige, a master the ukiyo-e, is renowned for his evocative landscapes, but here he captures the intensity of a legendary warrior from Japanese folklore. Rendered in the large oban format (35.2 × 24.7 cm), this color woodblock print exemplifies the vibrant, accessible art form that flourished in Edo-period Japan, bringing epic tales to everyday viewers. The Soga Brothers story, a cornerstone of kabuki theater and popula...
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...