Man with Broken Umbrella 1800 - 1868

“Man with Broken Umbrella,” currently at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, was created by a member of the Hokusai School. We see an image of a man, likely a samurai given his swords, with an umbrella that has been destroyed, splayed out behind his head. The state of the umbrella becomes a poignant metaphor for a warrior's resilience in the face of adversity. One might ask themselves, how does this imagery relate to the cultural and societal expectations of masculinity and honor during the era in which it was produced? It raises questions about the tension between the idealized image of the samurai and the reality of their daily struggles. Is this an alternative narrative that exposes vulnerabilities often hidden beneath the surface of traditional representations of power? Consider the man’s grimace. It is an emotional exposure of his situation as one might feel shame or distress. It is in this vulnerability that the piece resonates, allowing us to reflect on the multifaceted nature of identity, strength, and social expectations, reminding us that even warriors are susceptible to life's tempests.