Artwork

Rori Hakucho Chojun (from the series 108 Heroes of the Novel Shui Hu Chuan)

Rori Hakucho Chojun (from the series 108 Heroes of the Novel Shui Hu Chuan) is a print by the Romanticist artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi. It dates from 1824 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

This print, Rori Hakucho Chojun, is part of a series of 108 heroes from the novel Shui Hu Chuan, created by Utagawa Kuniyoshi around 1824.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a tattooed man, clad in a red loincloth and wielding a large sword, standing in water surrounded by black tentacles. A sign with Japanese writing is visible on a wall in the background, adding to the scene's intensity and action.

Technique & Style

The work showcases Kuniyoshi's skill in ukiyo-e, a style of Japanese printmaking known for its vivid depictions of scenes and characters.

History & Provenance

The print is now held at The Cleveland Museum of Art, indicating its significance and preservation over time.

Artist & collection

Artist

Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Kuniyoshi grew up in old Tokyo when the city was still called Edo. His dad ran a silk shop, but Kuniyoshi loved anything with pictures—scrolls, screens, comic books. He talked his way into the Utagawa school, a kind of…