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The Lovers Oshichi and Kichisaburo

ca. 1800
Not on view
The lurid story of this ill-fated pair was made into a popular Kabuki drama. Oshichi, the daughter of a greengrocer, fell in love with Kichisaburo when she was evacuated to a temple where he was a boy servant during the great 1683 fire in Edo. After returning home she was unable to see him again. Insane with longing, she deliberately set fire to her house and was later tried and executed for arson.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • 当世恋歌八契　お七と吉三郎
  • Title: The Lovers Oshichi and Kichisaburo
  • Artist: Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, ca. 1754–1806)
  • Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
  • Date: ca. 1800
  • Culture: Japan
  • Medium: Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
  • Dimensions: H. 15 1/4 in. (38.7 cm); W. 9 3/4 in. (24.8 cm)
  • Classification: Prints
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1922
  • Object Number: JP1439
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
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“Preparing Food for the Warbler,” from the album Men’s Stamping Dance (Otoko dōka, uguisu no esa suri) , Kitagawa Utamaro Japanese, Page from a woodblock printed book; ink and color on paper, Japan

“Preparing Food for the Warbler,” from the album Men’s Stamping Dance (Otoko dōka, uguisu no esa suri)

Kitagawa Utamaro
1798
The Lady Tomimoto Toyohina Reading a Letter, Kitagawa Utamaro Japanese, Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Japan
The Lady Tomimoto Toyohina Reading a Letter
Kitagawa Utamaro
1790
Women Preparing Sashimi, Kitagawa Utamaro Japanese, Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Japan
Women Preparing Sashimi
Kitagawa Utamaro
1806–20
In the Kitchen, Kitagawa Utamaro Japanese, Right-hand sheet of a diptych of woodblock prints; ink and color on paper, Japan
In the Kitchen
Kitagawa Utamaro
ca. 1794–95
Girl Fishers and Bathers, Kitagawa Utamaro Japanese, Triptych of woodblock prints; ink and color on paper, Japan
Girl Fishers and Bathers
Kitagawa Utamaro
1791

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