Danjō Matsunaga Hisahide before His Suicide 1883

Curator: Before us, we have "Danjō Matsunaga Hisahide before His Suicide," a woodblock print crafted in 1883 by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi. Editor: A truly arresting image, somber and raw. The stark white hair and raised hands give him such a haunted look, it is difficult to discern what emotions overwhelm the character: resignation, terror, pain? It’s incredibly evocative. Curator: Indeed. Yoshitoshi masterfully uses composition here. Notice the stark diagonal created by the broken screen drawing the eye across the body of Hisahide in what seems the final moment of life. The texture in the woodblock really enriches the patterned kimono and suggests its costly nature. The stark contrast with the surrounding setting points at an attempt at nobility amidst violent destruction. Editor: I’m drawn to those material contrasts as well. The opulence of the kimono against the bare wooden floor speaks volumes about the disconnect between status and the reality of seppuku. I am also interested in the process itself; it would require such dexterity, and many precisely carved blocks to achieve these vivid colors. How many skilled hands were part of this creation, removed from the act being portrayed, is striking to me. Curator: This is ukiyo-e, traditionally a medium consumed widely in Japan, depicting moments of dramatic societal upheaval. Hisahide was a powerful figure, known for treachery. But look how Yoshitoshi abstracts away such specific cultural contexts: through Hisahide’s hand gestures, we can perceive a range of strong feeling. Editor: I agree that it presents emotions universally resonant to a modern-day viewer, and, understanding how the artist uses a medium initially for the masses to elevate a fallen figure leaves us a striking testament to human conflict, then and now. Thank you for pointing out its intricate and socially engaged dimensions, so key to my comprehension. Curator: And your examination of the materials helps bring this moment back into concrete form, rendering it vividly. Thank you.