Sugaya Kuemon
- Date:
- 1868, 8th lunar month
- Medium:
- Woodblock print (nishiki-e), ink and color on paper
- Format:
- Oban
- Dimensions:
- 36.2 × 24.3 cm
- Source:
- Minneapolis Institute of Art
Description
Sugaya Kuemon was one of the forty-seven ronin who carried out the vendetta against Kira Yoshinaka in 1703. This 1868 nishiki-e portrait is part of Yoshitoshi's sustained engagement with the Chushingura subjects across multiple formats and series throughout his career. The ronin was a particularly resonant figure in the early Meiji period, when the question of what loyalty, sacrifice, and honor meant in a rapidly modernizing society was being debated across political, literary, and theatrical culture.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Sugaya Kuemon was created by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (月岡芳年) in 1868, 8th lunar month.
Sugaya Kuemon depicts figures, warriors, and portraits.
Sugaya Kuemon measures 36.2 × 24.3 cm (Oban format).