Hell Screen by Ryunosuke Akutagawa

The story revolves around the renowned but arrogant artist Yoshihide, who is commissioned by a powerful lord to create a screen depicting scenes of hell. Obsessed with realism, Yoshihide demands to witness actual suffering to inspire his work, leading to increasingly disturbing events. His fixation reaches a climax when he requests to see a woman burning alive, resulting in a tragic and horrifying revelation involving his own daughter. The tale explores themes of artistic obsession, the nature of cruelty, and the blurred lines between creation and destruction.

The 17102nd greatest book of all time


Published
1918
Nationality
Japanese
Length
Very Short
Pages
20-30
Original Language
Japanese
Avg User Rating
(2.5)
Alternate Titles
None

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