Kohada Koheiji, from the series "One Hundred Ghost Tales (Hyaku monogatari)"

Museum record 47398: Kohada Koheiji, from the series "One Hundred Ghost Tales (Hyaku monogatari)" by Katsushika Hokusai 葛飾 北斎. A verified entry point for…

What to notice

For Kohada Koheiji, from the series "One Hundred Ghost Tales (Hyaku monogatari)" (record 47398), start with modern, expressive, atmospheric. Compare the focal subject, edge treatment, and atmosphere before moving on.

Discover

This frightening print illustrates the story of Kohada Koheiji, a Kabuki actor who was drowned by his wife’s lover but later came back to haunt the couple. The tale was popular in the 18th century, eventually inspiring a novel and several Kabuki plays. Here, the skeletal ghost of Kohada Koheiji pulls down the mosquito net and eerily peers at the sleeping couple in their bed. The Art Institute’s collection boasts one of the most well-preserved and appreciated editions of Katsushika Hok usa i’s One Hundred…