The artwork titled “Lightning emanation From the great tree that Kawabe no Omi is about to fell for Prince Shôtoku” by Utagawa Kuniyoshi is part of the Ukiyo-e art movement, specifically falling under the genre of battle painting.
The artwork vividly portrays a dramatic scene in which lightning bolts are emanating from a majestic, ancient tree. The composition is dynamic and filled with tension, capturing the moment just before Kawabe no Omi attempts to fell the tree as ordered by Prince Shôtoku. The figures depicted are engaged in vigorous motion, reacting to the divine intervention of the lightning, which adds a supernatural element to the narrative. Kuniyoshi’s use of color and line work, typical of the Ukiyo-e style, effectively conveys the chaos and energy of the scene, while also emphasizing the power and reverence of nature intertwined with historical and legendary themes.
