Act X
1806
Hokusai brings the stage to life in this dramatic woodblock print depicting Act 10 of the famous Kabuki play 'Chushingura' (The Treasury of Loyal Retainers). Under a starry night sky, samurai clash violently on a riverside veranda; one warrior leaps desperately from the edge while others engage in a fierce sword fight below. In the background, a long pontoon bridge stretches across the water, setting the scene for this classic tale of loyalty and revenge. Though best known for 'The Great Wave,' Hokusai was a prolific creator of yakusha-e (actor prints), capturing the high-stakes intensity of popular theater for everyday people.
- Technique
- Woodblock print
- Material
- Paper and ink
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