Parody of the Letter-Reading Scene in Chushingura
c. 1780/1801
Medium
Color woodblock print; hashira-e
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
13345
Art Historical Context
Step into the vibrant world of Edo-period Japan with Katsukawa Shunchô's *Parody of the LetterReading Scene in Chushingura*, a color woodblock print (hashira-e) from around 1780–1801. This tall, narrow pillar print, designed to hang gracefully on architectural pillars, captures a playful *mitate*—a parody—reimagining a dramatic moment from *Chushingura*, the legendary tale of the 47 loyal ronin. Shunchô, a master of the ukiyo-e school, transforms the serious letter-reading scene into a lighthearted tableau, likely featuring courtesans or actors in elegant kimono, blending theater with everyday...
About the Artist
Katsukawa Shunchô · 1780–1801
Katsukawa Shunchō was a Japanese designer of ukiyo-e woodblock prints active from approximately 1780 to 1795, one of the most graceful practitioners of the art of bijinga — pictures of beautiful women. He trained in the studio of Katsukawa Shunshō, the founding master of the Katsukawa School, whose pupils also included the young Hokusai. Shunshō's school was primarily known for realistic portraits...