Horii Tsuneemon Crucified 1868

Here we see Tsukioka Yoshitoshi's print depicting the crucifixion of Horii Tsuneemon. A scene of agonizing death rendered with a stark, yet symbolic palette. The figure of Horii, impaled by a spear, evokes a profound sense of suffering. But consider the echoes of this image throughout history. The spear, a recurring motif of sacrifice. We see parallels in religious iconography; think of Saint Sebastian pierced by arrows or even the crucifixion of Christ. In each instance, the pierced body becomes a vessel for the conveyance of intense emotional states, from religious ecstasy to profound despair. Look closely. The mouth agape in a silent scream. Here we find what Freud might have called 'the return of the repressed'. The image taps into a collective memory of pain and suffering, resonating on a subconscious level. Yoshitoshi has not merely depicted a historical event; he has laid bare a primal emotional landscape. This symbol resurfaces across time, evolving yet retaining its power to disturb and move us.