Vuur, Sôkômei c. 1825

Totoya Hokkei created this woodblock print of a seated figure wearing a patterned kimono and elaborate headdress in Japan during the early 19th century. The print depicts a character from the popular Chinese novel *Water Margin*, which was widely read and adapted into various art forms in Japan during this time. The story revolves around a group of outlaws who challenge corruption. Hokkei’s choice of subject reflects a broader cultural interest in tales of rebellion and social justice, which resonates with Japan’s own history of feudalism and social hierarchy. The figure is adorned in a manner that blends both the aesthetic of the period and signifiers of rebellion. Here, the artist seems to invite us to think about the interplay between representation and identity, as he reimagines the folklore figure through the lens of Japanese cultural and artistic conventions. Hokkei challenges us to consider how heroism and identity are constructed.