De Chinese generaal Chôhi te paard op een brug c. 1816

Katsukawa Shuntei produced this woodblock print of 'The Chinese General Chôhi on a Horse' in Japan, sometime between 1770 and 1820. Woodblock prints were a popular art form in Japan's Edo period, and they played a significant role in shaping cultural identity. This print depicts a scene from Chinese folklore, reflecting the cross-cultural influences present in Japanese society. The general's fierce expression and dynamic pose signal the importance of military prowess in both Chinese and Japanese culture, embodying the samurai ethos. But consider the social conditions that shaped Shuntei’s artistic production. How did the Tokugawa shogunate’s policies of isolation influence the themes and styles that were favoured in art? As historians, we look to texts, objects, and visual culture to understand better the complex interplay between art, society, and power. Art is never created in a vacuum, and its meaning is always contingent on its social and institutional context.