Scenes of Hell Possibly 1819

"Scenes of Hell" is a vibrant, detailed painting by Kano Tōhaku Norinobu, dating back to possibly 1819. The artwork depicts a chaotic scene of hell, featuring a multitude of figures, both human and demonic, amidst fiery landscapes and structures. The artist, born in 1851, utilizes a palette of rich, contrasting colors, particularly the fiery reds and yellows against a backdrop of golden browns, to create a sense of intense heat and torment. This painting, housed at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, offers a glimpse into traditional Japanese beliefs about the afterlife and serves as a visual reminder of the consequences of wrongdoing.