Act XI, Part 1: The Night Attack Advances, c. 1835-1839
Utagawa Hiroshige; Publisher: Izumiya Ichibeiexpand_more
Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paperexpand_more
Gift of Louis W. Hill, Jr.expand_more P.75.51.251
Not on Viewexpand_more
The complex Kabuki epic Chñshingura concludes in act 11, in which the forty-seven loyal retainers finally avenge the wrongful death of their lord. This print shows the men uniformly dressed crossing a bridge in the stealth of night as they make their way to the enemy's mansion. The snow-covered landscape of Hiroshige's design accords with the season when the true revenge took place. In the foreground, two samurais unload ladders, which will be used to scale the mansion's walls. In contrasting the warrior's dark silhouettes with snow covered bridge, Hiroshige skillfully created an ominous atmosphere that suggests the collective mental state of the vengeful warriors.
Details
- Title
- Act XI, Part 1: The Night Attack Advances
- Artist Life
- 1797 - 1858
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- P.75.51.251
- Catalogue Raisonne
- Ukiyo-e shūka 14 (1981), Hiroshige list, p. 245, horizontal ōban #50.11
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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