Operating on Guan Yu's Arm

Katsushika Ōi employs a striking color palette, notably vibrant reds and stark whites, to convey urgency and realism, deviating from the typical beauty-focused themes of ukiyo-e to emphasize shock and tension.

Created by Katsushika Ōi, a rare female artist of her time, this work benefited from her collaboration with her renowned father, Katsushika Hokusai, facilitating her artistic visibility in a male-dominated field.

Part of the broader ukiyo-e movement, this piece is unusual for its graphic content, reflecting the genre's occasional foray into popular literature's dramatic and sometimes violent narratives.

Housed at The Cleveland Museum of Art, it stands as a notable example of ukiyo-e's thematic diversity and Ōi's unique contribution to the genre, despite her relatively overlooked status compared to her father.