Sakata Kinpira Nyudo 1700 - 1735

Okumura Masanobu created this ink drawing, Sakata Kinpira Nyudo, in Japan sometime in the early to mid-18th century. Masanobu was working during the Edo period, a time of economic growth, strict social order, and relative peace and isolation. This work depicts Sakata Kintoki, a figure from Japanese folklore known for his superhuman strength. It shows him as a powerful, almost demonic figure, which departs from traditional, more heroic portrayals. Kintoki, also known as Kintaro, often symbolized strength and courage, embodying the warrior ethos valued in feudal Japan. The artist challenges this valorization through a grotesque and unsettling depiction, which speaks to the era's complex negotiation of masculinity and power. The monk in the background, a serene contrast to Kintoki’s violent energy, further complicates the narrative, suggesting themes of control and the uneasy coexistence of violence and spirituality. The print invites viewers to consider the cultural values placed on strength and the subtle ways those values were being questioned.