Artwork
Operating on Guan Yu's Arm
Operating on Guan Yu's Arm is an unspecified painting by the Ukiyo-e artist Katsushika Ōi. It dates from 1844 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The subject exemplifies themes of loyalty and endurance, as Guan Yu endures pain without flinching, reinforcing his idealized virtue.
The work depicts the Chinese general Guan Yu receiving treatment from the physician Hua Tuo, a scene drawn from the late-Ming novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Guan Yu's seated posture and exposed wounded arm signal the moment of surgical intervention, while Hua Tuo's focused demeanor underscores the gravity of the operation. The subject exemplifies themes of loyalty and endurance, as Guan Yu endures pain without flinching, reinforcing his idealized virtue.
The composition's calm intensity evokes both the medical act and the moral fortitude associated with this historical figure.
Technique & Style
Operating on Guan Yu's Arm is an ink painting on paper created by Katsushika Ōi in 1844. As a work of Japanese art, it utilizes traditional materials consistent with Edo-period painting practices, employing ink as the primary medium on a paper support. The composition depicts the historical scene of Hua Tuo performing surgery on the arm of the warrior Guan Yu.
The work is currently held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. While specific details regarding brush handling and surface condition are not elaborated in the available records, the piece is classified as a painting from Japan, reflecting the artistic conventions of its time and place of origin.
History & Provenance
Operating on Guan Yu's Arm is a painting created in 1844 by the Japanese artist Katsushika Ōi. The work, which depicts the historical figures Guan Yu and Hua Tuo, was produced in Japan during the mid-nineteenth century. Current records indicate the piece is held within the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is cataloged under the accession number 1998.178.
While the specific commission details or earlier ownership chains prior to its museum acquisition are not detailed in the available records, the work's creation is firmly dated to 1844. The painting remains a notable example of Ōi's artistic output from that period.
Overview
Katsushika Ōi, a notable artist from the Edo period, created this painting titled Operating on Guan Yu's Arm in 1844. The work exemplifies the ukiyo-e genre, known for its depictions of everyday life, historical narratives, and theatrical scenes. Here, Ōi portrays a dramatic moment from Chinese legend, focusing on the renowned general Guan Yu undergoing a medical procedure with remarkable composure. The painting highlights her individual artistic contributions within the ukiyo-e tradition.
Artist & collection
Artist
Katsushika Ōi (葛飾 応為, c. 1800 – c. 1866), also known as Ei (栄; or O-Ei (お栄) with the honorific prefix) or Ei-jo (栄女; lit. 'woman Ei'), was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist of the early 19th century Edo period. She was a…
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