Act Four: Enya Hangan's Castle from the play Chushingura (Treasury of the Forty-seven Loyal Retainers) c. 1795

"Act Four: Enya Hangan's Castle from the play Chushingura (Treasury of the Forty-seven Loyal Retainers)" is a woodblock print by Katsukawa Shun'ei, created around 1795. The print depicts a scene from the famous Japanese play, "Chushingura," showcasing a domestic setting with three figures dressed in traditional Japanese attire, a flowering cherry blossom tree, and a window with a view of a blossoming branch. The detailed depiction of clothing and surroundings exemplifies Shun'ei's skill in the ukiyo-e style, which flourished in Edo-era Japan. This work, now part of the Art Institute of Chicago's collection, captures a poignant moment in the play, conveying the emotional complexities of loyalty, betrayal, and sacrifice.