Roshungi (Chinese, Lu Zhunyi) as a Woman with a Pipe Riding on a Buffalo 1797 - 1861

This woodblock print, Roshungi (Chinese, Lu Zhunyi) as a Woman with a Pipe Riding on a Buffalo, was created by Utagawa Kuniyoshi. The print is immediately striking because of the sinuous lines of the woman's patterned kimono, which contrast sharply with the solid, dark form of the buffalo. Kuniyoshi masterfully plays with textures – the smooth skin of the child, the rough hide of the buffalo, and the intricate designs of the fabric. The composition draws the eye upward from the boy to the woman, whose gaze leads into the landscape. The juxtaposition of Chinese mythology with Japanese artistic style creates a fascinating interplay of cultural signs. Kuniyoshi destabilizes fixed meanings by representing a male character from Chinese legend as a woman, challenging traditional gender roles. The formal qualities of the artwork – the interplay of line, texture, and cultural symbols – invite continuous questioning and decoding. The meaning is not fixed but is actively produced through engagement with the artwork's complex visual language.