Hatsuhana by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Utagawa Kuniyoshi's 'Hatsuhana Doing penance under the Tonosawa Waterfall' is a nineteenth-century Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock print produced during the late Edo period. The print belongs to Kuniyoshi's series Kenjo Reppu Den, usually translated as Biographies of Wise Women and Virtuous Wives. The work brings together ideas of female virtue, religious devotion, theatrical storytelling, popular literature and the political circumstances of the late Edo period. Its subject, Hatsuhana, was a popular figure from the dramatic narrative Hakone Reigen Izari no Adauchi (The Miracle Revenge at Hakone), and Kuniyoshi's image transforms her story of suffering and devotion into a visually powerful representation of female fidelity. Utagwa Kuniyoshi was particularly famous for his dynamic warrior prints, historical and legendary subjects, depictions of supernatural beings, satire and images of everyday life. He was also an artist who responded closely to contemporary visual culture of Edo. The woodblock print on paper is vertically oriented oban format print. The documented impression measures approximately 36.4 x 24.8 cm. The print depicts Hatsuhana, the wife of Linuma Katsugoro, kneeling beneath the waterfall at Hakone, connecting the image to the sacred landscape of Hakone. Her body is placed directly beneath the powerful vertical movement of the water, while the surrounding rocks and vegetation establish the mountainous setting. The rapid movement of the waterfall gives the composition a strong downward thrust, while Harsuhana's stationary, prayerful body provides a visual counterpoint. The figure appears vulnerable in relation to the natural environment, yet her physical vulnerability is precisely what communicates the strength of her devotion. The print was published by Ibaya Senaburo, an Edo publisher associated with several designs from the series. The involvement of a publisher is important because ukiyo-e was fundamentally collaborative. Kuniyoshi supplied the design, but the final image depended on the carving and printing of multiple blocks.