Het spook van Sakura no Kiuchi Sogoro Ichikawa Udanji wreekt zich op krijgers van de Shogun 1893

This woodblock print by Toyohara Kunichika depicts a dramatic scene from a Japanese kabuki play. The print, created in 1893, portrays the ghost of Sogoro Ichikawa Udanji, a famous kabuki actor, taking revenge on warriors of the Shogun. The dynamic composition and vibrant colors typical of the ukiyo-e style capture the intensity of the action, with the ghost’s long flowing hair and menacing presence contrasting with the terrified expressions of the samurai. This print is a powerful example of the interplay between kabuki theater and the art of woodblock printing in 19th-century Japan. The print is currently housed in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.