忠臣蔵五段目|Sadakuro Threatening to Kill Yoichibei

“This print captures a tense, rain-swept moment from a classic samurai tale, showcasing the dramatic storytelling power of Japanese woodblock prints. Notice the threatening posture and the detailed portrayal of a pivotal scene from the Kabuki stage.”

ABOUT THIS WORK

In this dramatic woodblock print, a figure in a straw hat, Sadakuro, looms over an older man, Yoichibei, threatening him with a sword. The scene unfolds under a stormy sky, with rain streaks depicted through delicate lines, emphasizing the tension and impending violence. This print illustrates a pivotal moment from the famous Kabuki play Chūshingura, or The Treasury of Loyal Retainers, a tale of samurai honor and revenge. The artist captures the raw emotion and narrative power of the theatrical performance, using the stark contrast of light and shadow, and the dynamic poses of the figures, to heighten the drama. The careful rendering of the figures' expressions and their detailed clothing draws the viewer into the unfolding tragedy.

DETAILS

Artist: Utagawa Hiroshige
Date: 1830
Medium: Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Location: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Dimensions: H. 9 1/8 in. (23.2 cm); W. 13 3/4 in. (34.9 cm)

ART MOVEMENTS

Ukiyo-e

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What to Notice

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忠臣蔵五段目|Sadakuro Threatening to Kill Yoichibei

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Sadakuro's glare

Look at the standing man's scowling face under the big straw hat. His fierce stare and hunched shoulders carry the threat in the print's title.

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The kneeling victim

The older man in the green patterned robe kneels on the slope, mouth open and one hand out. The standing man holds a blade near his throat, so his fear reads at once.

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Layered straw umbrella

The rain hat is built from fine radiating lines in yellow and brown, each strand cut crisply. It is a showpiece of carving and also frames the villain's head.

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Glowing lantern

Near the bottom right, a small object with a flickering flame sits on the path, possibly a dropped lantern. It is easy to miss and adds to the sense of a sudden struggle.

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Twin pine trunks

The two big pine trunks rise in the middle of the print. They sit between the dark cliff on the left and the figures on the right, and split the scene in two.

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THE ARTIST

Utagawa Hiroshige

1797–1858 · Japan

Utagawa Hiroshige, the last great master of ukiyo-e, transformed landscape printmaking with his poetic scenes of Edo Japan and vibrant use of color gradation.

Read Hiroshige’s full story