Parody of the Story of Narukami 1765

Komatsuken Kiyomitsu created this woodblock print of a Parody of the Story of Narukami. We see two figures delineated by sharp lines, and patterns and enclosed in a composition of horizontal planes and vertical lines. These visual elements create a sense of structure that contrasts with the implied narrative of parody. Here, the composition is divided into two distinct spaces each inhabited by a figure. On the right we see a woman who appears to be in a contemplative pose, set against a backdrop with patterned decorations. The figure on the left standing in a landscape, gazes upward. These formal juxtapositions may suggest a complex interplay between stillness and action. The artist employs a semiotic system in which cultural codes may have informed the artwork's making. This includes the use of costume, setting, and the very act of parody itself, which invites us to consider the ways in which Kiyomitsu engages with established narratives and cultural values. Art does not have a fixed meaning but is always open to ongoing interpretation.