Yamauba Watching Kintaro Wrestle a Boar
late 18th/early 19th century
Medium
Color woodblock print; surimono
Dimensions
20.5 × 31.4 cm (8 1/8 × 12 3/8 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
81389
Art Historical Context
In the vibrant woodblock print *Yamauba Watching Kintaro Wrestle a Boar*, Kubo Shunman captures a dynamic moment from Japanese folklore. Kintaro, the legendary superhuman boy raised in the mountains, grapples fiercely with a massive boar, showcasing his prodigious strength. Perched nearby is Yamauba, the mountain ogress who nurtured him, her expression a mix of pride and amusement. This late 18th- or early 19th-century scene draws from tales popularized in kabuki theater and picture books, embodying the Edo period's fascination with heroic exploits and supernatural beings. Shunman, a master o...
About the Artist
Kubo Shunman · 1757–1820
Japanese, 1757–1820