Operating on Guan Yu's Arm

Katsushika Ōi painted ‘Operating on Guan Yu’s Arm’ in the 1840s. It is a hanging scroll using ink, color, and gold on silk. The work depicts a scene from the famous Chinese historical novel ‘Romance of the Three Kingdoms’.

The painting measures 101.5 x 39.5 cm. Gold accents highlight the dramatic scene. The silk support allows for delicate brushwork and vibrant colors.

Ōi, daughter of the famous Hokusai, was known for her skill in painting and assisting her father. Little is known about her life after the 1850s.

Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio, https://clevelandart.org/art/1998.178

https://oolf.net/open-art/oi-operating-on-guan-yus-arm-1840/