Title : Momotarö at the Öu Ferry Crossing

Artist : Utagawa Toyoharu

Date : 1770s

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Source : Honolulu Museum of Art
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Description : Momotarö was a boy born from a peach found by an elderly woman washing clothes on a riverbank. The ""Peach Boy"" was adopted by the woman and her husband. Maturing quickly, he attained fame by ridding an island of its infestation of demons. In this task he was helped by his three trusted friends: a dog, a pheasant, and a monkey. These are all shown dressed as warriors in this print, as Momotarö attacks the bizarre demons of Ogre Island. (from Uki-e exihibition 2004: June-August) ALT TEXT This print was conserved with the support of the Robert F. Lange Foundation. In the tale of Momotarö, an old woman finds a large peach floating in the river and takes it to her husband for dinner. Inside the peach they discover a young boy and adopt him, naming him Momotarö, or peach boy. When the boy grows up, he leaves home to battle against ogres who are terrorizing the land. Along his journey he encounters and recruits the help of a dog, a monkey, and a pheasant. They set out to sail for Ogre Island, where Momotarö, the dog, monkey, and pheasant attack and subdue the ogres. After the Ogre King surrenders, Momotarö makes them promise to stop scaring people and to return the treasures they stole. Momotarö and his animal entourage return from Ogre Island victorious. In this scene, Momotarö is standing over the Ogre King, threatening to kill him. The stiff poses of the monkey and Momotarö resemble those used in Kabuki. Here again, Toyoharu reveals an uncommon talent for using Western perspective.

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