Ehon chushingura 

Curator: This is a page from Hokusai’s Ehon Chushingura, which translates to “Picture Book of the Chushingura.” The Harvard Art Museums house this woodblock print. Editor: My immediate response is to the spatial composition—the flatness, and the interplay between foreground and background. It feels intentionally disjointed. Curator: Hokusai uses that disjointedness to depict the complex narratives of loyalty, revenge, and social upheaval from the Akō vendetta. The figures are placed within domestic interiors, yet their struggles echo larger societal conflicts. Editor: I see how the figures interact with the rigid structure of the architecture, and how that creates a visual tension. The formal constraint amplifies the emotive quality. Curator: Absolutely. And considering the socio-political atmosphere of the Edo period, this work subtly critiques power structures while celebrating ideals of honor. Editor: The visual language effectively conveys those tensions. Thinking about the formal aspects has really enhanced my understanding. Curator: Indeed, analyzing Hokusai’s work through both a socio-historical lens and formal qualities illuminates the depth of this piece.