Parody of the Letter-Reading Scene in Chushingura
c. 1776
Medium
Color woodblock print; hashira-e
Dimensions
69.9 × 11.8 cm (27 1/2 × 4 5/8 in.)
Classification
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
110323
Art Historical Context
In the vibrant world of 18th-century Japanese uyo-e prints, Isoda Koryusai's *Parody of the Letter-Reading Scene in Chushingura* (c. 1776) captures the playful spirit of Edo-period popular culture. This color woodblock print reimagines a dramatic moment from *Chushing*, the beloved kabuki tale of the loyal 47 ronin avenging their master's death. Koryusai, a master of bijin-ga (images of beautiful women), transforms the serious letter-reading scene into a humorousmitate*—a parody substituting elegant courtesans or everyday figures for the samurai heroes, blending high drama with lighthearted wi...