Wang Pu (O ho), from the series "Twenty-four Paragons of Filial Piety in China (Morokoshi nijushiko)"

Art Historical Context

This vibrant woodblock print by Utagawa Kuniy, a master of the ukiyo-e tradition, depicts *Wang Pu (O ho)* from the series *Twenty Paragons of Filialiety in China (Morokoshi nijushiko)*, created around 1848–50. Kuniyoshi (1797–1861), renowned for his dynamic warrior prints and imaginative compositions, here turns to moral exemplars from Chinese Confucian lore. The chuban format—compact at 25.2 × 17.8 cm—made these affordable prints popular in Edo-period Japan, allowing widespread dissemination of ethical tales. The series illustrates legendary acts of filial devotion, with Wang Pu embodying one of the twenty-four paragons revered for honoring parents. Kuniyoshi's bold lines, vivid colors achieved through layered woodblock printing, and expressive figures capture the emotional intensity of these stories, blending Japanese ukiyo-e flair with imported Chinese narratives. This technique, involving multiple carved blocks for intricate hues, exemplifies the technical prowess of 19th-century Japanese printmaking. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia department, this print highlights filial piety's enduring cultural role in East Asia, a virtue central to social harmony. Kuniyoshi's work invites viewers to reflect on timeless family bonds through art's vivid lens.

About the Artist

Utagawa Kuniyoshi · 1797–1861

Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861) was born in Edo to the silk-dyer Yanagiya Kichiyemon, originally bearing the childhood name Yoshisaburō. From a young age, he assisted in his family's pattern design work, which sharpened his innate mastery of color and textile motifs that would permeate his later prints. At around twelve years old, his prodigious drawing skills drew the attention of the renowned Utag...