In 1847, at the remarkable age of 87, Katsushika Hokusai created The Legendary Empress Jingū, one of his final forays into the world of heroic women from Japan’s past. The print belongs to a late period in Hokusai’s life, when he declared himself "the old man mad about drawing" and produced a series of images celebrating legendary and historical female figures. Empress Jingū herself is a figure shrouded in both history and myth—reputed to have led a daring invasion of Korea in the 3rd century, a feat that, according to Japanese chronicles, she accomplished while pregnant. Hokusai captures Empress Jingū at the height of her legend: armored, poised, and commanding, she stands at the prow of a warship, her gaze fixed on the distant Korean shore.

The artist’s lines are crisp and purposeful, emphasizing the Empress’s unwavering resolve. The helmet and sword at her side signal her martial authority, while the banners fluttering behind her recall the visual drama of kabuki theater. In contrast to earlier, more delicate depictions—such as those by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, who often focused on Jingū’s maternal qualities—Hokusai’s Empress is a figure of action, her presence dominating the composition and the narrative alike. The precise medium of The Legendary Empress Jingū remains uncertain, though its bold outlines and color suggest a woodblock print typical of late Edo period ukiyo-e.

Like many of Hokusai’s works from his final years, it was likely produced for popular consumption rather than by aristocratic commission, reflecting the era’s fascination with national heroes. The print’s survival into the present day is a testament to both the enduring appeal of its subject and Hokusai’s late-career inventiveness. Today, it is held in several museum and private collections, and continues to be studied as an example of Hokusai’s fascination with powerful women and his unflagging creative energy in old age.