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This print illustrates the legend of a woman murdered by her husband because she accidentally broke plates. Her corpse and the pieces of the dishes were thrown into a well, but her ghost returned every night to haunt him in the eerie form seen here. This small-format work features a bright blue color that may seem cheery to us, but Hokusai’s original audience would have associated it with death and the occult.

This frightening print illustrates the story of Kohada Koheiji, a Kabuki actor who was drowned by his wife’s lover but later came back to haunt the couple. The tale was popular in the 18th century, eventually inspiring a novel and several Kabuki plays. Here, the skeletal ghost of Kohada Koheiji pulls down the mosquito net and eerily peers at the sleeping couple in their bed.

Whaling off the Coast of the Goto Islands (Goto kujira tsuki), from the series "One Thousand Pictures of the Ocean (Chie no umi)"

Hell Courtesan

Cranes on snow-covered pine

Night Rain at the Double-Shelf Stand, from the series Eight Parlor Views (Zashiki hakkei)

A Philosopher Watching a Pair of Butterflies, from The Picture Book of Realistic Paintings of Hokusai (Hokusai shashin gafu)

An Artisan’s Shop, from the album The Mist of Sandara (Sandara kasumi)

Lilies, from an untitled series of Large Flowers

Iris and Grasshopper, from an untitled series of large flowers

Fishing Boats at Choshi in Shimosa (Soshu Choshi) from the series "One Thousand Pictures of the Ocean (Chie no umi)"

Morning Glories and Tree-frog, from an untitled series of Large Flowers

Bullfinch and Weeping Cherry (Uso, shidarezakura), from an untitled series of flowers and birds

Poppies, from an untitled series of flowers

Amida Falls in the Far Reaches of the Kisokaido (Kisoji no oku Amidagataki), from the series "A Tour of Waterfalls in Various Provinces (Shokoku taki meguri)"

Hydrangea and Swallow, from an untitled series of large flowers

Mishima Pass in Kai Province (Koshu Mishimagoe), from the series "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjurokkei)"

Grapevine and Squirrels

Umezawa Marsh in Sagami Province (Soshu Umezawa hidari), from the series "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjurokkei)"

Sazai Hall at the Temple of the Five Hundred Arhats (Gohyakurakanji Sazaido), from the series "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjurokkei)"

Fragment textiel

Tagonoura Bay near Ejiri on the Tōkaidō (Tōkaidō Ejiri Tagonoura ryakuzu), from the series Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei)

Japan; Illustrated book; Illustrated Books

Under the Wave off Kanagawa (Kanagawa oki nami ura), also known as The Great Wave, from the series "Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei)"

Ono Falls on the Kisokaidō Road (Kisokaidō Ono no bakufu), from the series Tour of the Waterfalls in Various Provinces (Shokoku taki meguri)

Bell-Flower and Dragonfly, from an untitled series of large flowers

Yoro Waterfall in Mino Province (Mino no kuni Yoro no taki), from the series Tour of the Waterfalls in Various Provinces (Shokoku Takimeguri)

Under the Wave off Kanagawa (Kanagawa oki nami ura), also known as The Great Wave, from the series "Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjurokkei)"

Kajikazawa in Kai Province (Koshu Kajikazawa), from the series "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjurokkei)"

A Mild Breeze on a Fine Day (Gaifu kaisei), from the series "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjurokkei)"

Hotei Smoking his Pipe, from The Picture Book of Realistic Paintings of Hokusai (Hokusai shashin gafu)

Goddess Riding a Dragon, from The Picture Book of Realistic Paintings of Hokusai (Hokusai shashin gafu)

Shower Below the Summit (Sanka hakuu), from the series "Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjurokkei)"

Hawk, from The Picture Book of Realistic Paintings of Hokusai (Hokusai shashin gafu)

Armor (Gusoku)

Tama River in Musashi Province (Bushu Tamagawa), from the series "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjurokkei)"

Ushibori in Hitachi Province (Joshu Ushibori), from the series "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjurokkei)"

Fishing by Torch in Kai Province (Koshu hiburi) from the series "One Thousand Pictures of the Ocean (Chie no umi)"

Fragment textiel

Cotton Roses and Sparrow, from an untitled series of Large Flowers

Fragment textiel

Ejiri in Suruga Province (Sunshu Ejiri), from the series "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjurokkei)"

Fujimigahara in Owari Province (Bishu Fujimigahara), from the series "Thirty-six views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjurokkei)"

Viewing Sunset over the Ryogoku Bridge from the Onmaya Embankment (Onmayagashi yori Ryogokubashi sekiyo o miru), from the series "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjurokkei)"

Japan; Illustrated book; Illustrated Books

Woman Reading a Letter

Tánggǔ (堂鼓)

Mount Fuji with Cherry Trees in Bloom

The Tea Plantation of Katakura in Suruga Province (Sunshu Katakura chaen no Fuji), from the series "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjurokkei)"

Repository for the Great Perfection of Wisdom Sutra and Eleven Volumes of the Great Perfection of Wisdom Sutra

Japan; Illustrated book; Illustrated Books

Ovoid covered jar with a woman reading a letter and finial in the shape of a shishi

Togetsu Bridge at Arashiyama in Yamashiro Province (Yamashiro Arashiyama no Togetsukyo), from the series "Unusual Views of Famous Bridges in Various Provinces (Shokoku meikyo kiran)"

Tatekawa River Lumberyard at Honjo (Honjo Tatekawa), from the series "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjurokkei)"

Chrysanthemum and Horsefly, from an untitled series of Large Flowers

Covered cylindrical beaker with leaf-motif

Japan; Illustrated book; Illustrated Books

Dragon and Tiger

Two Rabbits, from The Picture Book of Realistic Paintings of Hokusai (Hokusai shashin gafu)

Jar with Lion-Head Handles

Fox, from The Picture Book of Realistic Paintings of Hokusai (Hokusai shashin gafu)

Grafmonument met alliantiewapen en vier kwartierwapens

Twee fragmenten textiel

Goten Hill at Shinagawa on the Tokaido (Tokaido Shinagawa Gotenyama), from the series "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjurokkei)"

Honderd gezichten op de berg Fuji - deel drie

Bowl with Inscription, "Sovereignty is God's"

Ewer

Jar with Dragon and Clouds Design

Bahram Gur Arrives at the House of a Merchant, text page (recto); Bahram Gur Slays a Dragon (verso), from a Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdausi (940–1019 or 1025), known as the Great Mongol Shahnama

Blooming Plum Tree, from The Picture Book of Realistic Paintings of Hokusai (Hokusai shashin gafu)

Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Phoenix in Paulownia

Beneath Mannen Bridge in Fukagawa (Fukagawa Mannenbashi shita) from the series "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjurokkei)"

Iris, from The Picture Book of Realistic Paintings of Hokusai (Hokusai shashin gafu)

Grapevine

Bottle with Birds and Peony Scroll

Fragment van een muurschildering

Ovoid covered jar with a woman reading a letter and finial in the shape of a shishi

Bell (Lai Zhong)

Ingelijste muurschildering voorstellende Xiwangmu en dienaressen

Stela of Amenemhat and Hemet

Cloth with Procession of Figures

Red-Figure Calyx-Krater (Mixing Vessel): Medea in Chariot (A); Telephos with Baby Orestes (B)

Armorer (Yoroi takumi), from the illustrated book "Picture Book of the Amusements of the East (Ehon Azuma asobi)"

Helmet (Zukinnari Kabuto)

Oribe-Type Ewer

Twee textielfragmenten op een blad, borduursel en druk op zijde

Basin with Inscribed Figures and Calligraphy

The Milkmaid

White-Ground Lekythos (Oil Vessel): Atalanta and Erotes

Dragon in foliage with lion and phoenix heads

Mandala of the Three Shrines at Kumano

Japan; Illustrated book; Illustrated Books

Fan painting with river landscape

Jar with wooden cover and two large flower groups

Acteurs tijdens een kabuki-voorstelling in Kabukiza, Tokyo

"The Concourse of the Birds", Folio 11r from a Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds)

Ovoid jar with women with a yoke in scalloped panels

Covered box decorated with chrysanthemums and waterfowl among lotus

Wine Cup with Children at Play

Textielfragment, shibori-zome op zijde