Artwork

Scene Adapted from the play The Treasury of Loyal Retainers (Chushingura)

Scene Adapted from the play The Treasury of Loyal Retainers (Chushingura) is a print by the Romanticist artist Kitagawa Utamaro. It dates from 1794 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. This print depicts a dramatic scene from a renowned Japanese play.

About this work

A man kneels in a wooden room, head low. Three others stand over him, one with a drawn sword. The room has a paper screen door and a single lantern.

This print shows a famous scene from a 1701 revenge story. The play mixes history and drama, so artists often illustrated its intense moments.

It’s in the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Overview

This print depicts a dramatic scene from a renowned Japanese play. It is one of many artworks inspired by the story.

Subject & Meaning

The scene shows a tense moment involving four figures in a simple, traditionally furnished room. A kneeling man is confronted by three others, one of whom wields a sword, suggesting a pivotal moment in a narrative of conflict and revenge.

History & Provenance

The print is based on 'The Treasury of Loyal Retainers', a play rooted in a historical revenge tale from 1701-1703. The artwork is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art's collection.