Erster Akt

Katsushika Hokusai

1806

Erster Akt by Katsushika Hokusai, 1806

Hokusai sets the stage for a classic Japanese tragedy in this vibrant woodblock print, depicting the first act of the famous 'Chushingura' (The Treasury of Loyal Retainers) story. With his signature Mount Fuji looming over a red torii gate and the sea, the scene is packed with drama: a nobleman reclines in the foreground while a woman stands elegantly nearby, and a samurai carries a gift box on the left. It’s a brilliant snapshot of Edo-period theater, showing that Hokusai was just as skilled at capturing human emotion and storytelling as he was at painting great waves.

Technique
woodblock print
Material
paper

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