About this artwork
Hiroshige enhanced the dramatic impact of his series by expanding the final act into six separate scenes; the last three are not based on the kabuki play. This image has been described as the masterpiece of the series and depicts the (revenge of the) ronin on a very snowy, isolated evening starting their march on Kira’s home. The whole group crosses a bridge out of Kamakura (Edo) near Kira’s mansion. At the lower right, there is an escape boat (not seen in the play) that ensures, in the event of a counterattack by Kira’s supporters, that several ronin would be able to flee with the proof of Kira’s death.
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Status
- Currently Off View
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Department
- Arts of Asia
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Artist
- Utagawa Hiroshige
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Title
- Act 11, Part 1: The Approach to the Night Attack (Juichidanme ichi, yochi oshiyose), from the series "The Revenge of the Loyal Retainers (Chushingura)"
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Place
- Japan (Artist's nationality:)
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Date
- 1835–1845
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Medium
- Color woodblock print; oban
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Dimensions
- 25 × 36.7 cm (9 13/16 × 14 7/16 in.)
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Credit Line
- Frederick W. Gookin Collection
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Reference Number
- 1939.1334
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IIIF Manifest
- https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/33784/manifest.json