Pephistory of Art Vol. II - From Ukiyo-e to Manga: A Pepe Monogatari
Pepe as the Ghost of Oyuki
This work reimagines the famous yūrei portrait attributed to Maruyama Ōkyo, The Ghost of Oyuki, replacing the ethereal female spirit with a serene, translucent Pepe figure. Maintaining the hallmarks of Edo-period ghost iconography, elongated limbs, flowing white burial robes, and hair cascading like a dark veil, the piece mirrors Ōkyo’s original emphasis on quiet sorrow and spiritual lingering. The soft, mist-like lower body dissolves into the parchment background, echoing the monochrome ink aesthetics of late-Edo painting. By inserting Pepe into this iconic apparition, the work both preserves and playfully subverts a foundational image of Japanese supernatural art, transforming it into a haunting yet strangely tender presence within Pephistory Volume II.
- Trait 1 NameLate Edo Period
- Trait 2 NameFrog
- Trait 3 NameVol. II
- Trait 4 NameChapter II