Who painted Act VII from the series The Storehouse of Loyal Retainers?

Act VII from the series The Storehouse of Loyal Retainers was painted by Kitagawa Utamaro in 1802.

Where can I see Act VII from the series The Storehouse of Loyal Retainers?

Act VII from the series The Storehouse of Loyal Retainers is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Act VII from the series The Storehouse of Loyal Retainers?

Act VII from the series The Storehouse of Loyal Retainers is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Act VII from the series The Storehouse of Loyal Retainers

Kitagawa Utamaro , 1802

Act VII from the series The Storehouse of Loyal Retainers is a print by the Romanticist artist Kitagawa Utamaro. It dates from 1802 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Act VII from The Storehouse of Loyal Retainers is a print by Utamaro that reimagines a scene from a well-known Japanese play with comedic twists, juxtaposing the altered main image with a reference to the original episode.

Subject & Meaning

The print humorously transforms a tense spy scene into a lighthearted moment: a dog (playfully named 'inu', coinciding with the Japanese word for spy) lies under a veranda where a beau reads a love letter, while a bored courtesan fans herself above, indifferent to the scene.

Technique & Style

Utamaro employs juxtaposition to facilitate comparison between his comedic reinterpretation and the original dramatic scene, which is depicted alongside the main image, ensuring the humor remains accessible to familiar audiences.

Context

This work reflects Utamaro's tendency to infuse traditional narratives with humor by altering settings and characters, making the content more relatable and entertaining for his contemporary audience.

History & Provenance

Part of Utamaro's series The Storehouse of Loyal Retainers, this print is now housed at The Cleveland Museum of Art, though specific acquisition details are not provided here.