Primary sourcePainting1830

The Lantern Ghost, Iwa

Katsushika Hokusai · 1830

A woodblock print by Hokusai depicting the vengeful ghost Oiwa rising from a paper lantern, based on a famous kabuki play.

One of Hokusai's most celebrated supernatural print designs, showing his imaginative range as an artist.

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Japanese woodblock print of a ghost with a pale face, long dark hair, and a single angry eye, rising from a tall paper lantern with calligraphy on it, against a dark blue background with grass below. — Katsushika Hokusai, The Lantern Ghost, Iwa, c. 1830.

About this source

What it is

This woodblock print, designed around 1830 by Katsushika Hokusai, shows the ghost Oiwa emerging from a lantern. The character comes from the kabuki play Yotsuya Kaidan.

Why it matters

Ghost stories and kabuki theatre were hugely popular in Hokusai's time, and prints like this connected art, performance, and popular legend. The design is considered one of his most striking supernatural images, showing his imaginative range beyond landscapes and beautiful women.

Look closer

What details make the ghost's face frightening?
Why might an artist choose a popular stage story as a subject for a print?
How does the dark background change the mood of the image?

This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Hokusai on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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