Tale of Eight Dogs (Hakkenden)
Original title: Tale of Eight Dogs (Hakkenden) 八犬伝;
kurzbeschreibung
Published in 1853, the sixth year of the Kaei era, this set of two woodblock-printed books by Utagawa Kuniyoshi brings together scenes from the novel of the same name. Both volumes were printed with ink and color on paper; one measures roughly 18 × 12 cm.
Description
A double spread carries two black-and-white woodcuts. On the left, two figures in traditional Japanese dress grapple with each other while a third sits between them, watching. On the right stands a lone figure wrapped in a ghostly shadow. The garments are worked in rich detail and feel dramatic; a narrow band of Chinese characters frames the pages.
Context
The source is Kyokutei Bakin's widely read novel Nansō Satomi Hakkenden, which appeared between 1814 and 1842. Kuniyoshi made numerous illustrations for this material, the tale of eight warriors born from dogs. The volumes were printed in 1853, a period in which the artist was known for his lively and often supernatural images.
Impact
The black-and-white printing sets up a strong contrast that sustains the tension of the wrestling match as much as the eerie presence of the ghost figure. Delicately drawn lines and carefully worked costumes give the figures a tangible presence and draw the eye into the world of the story.
Technique
The volumes were produced as woodcuts, with ink and colors applied to the paper. This allowed the precise lines and clear forms usual in nineteenth-century ukiyo-e. The handy format of about 18 × 12 cm points to a pocket book, the kind that carried popular tales to a wide readership.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)