Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892)
The famous war hero Minamoto no Yoshitsune, in full armour with a naginata lance, cautiously approaches the Lady Kenrei Mon'in ("the one living at the Kenrei Gate of the Imperial Palace", her real name was Taira no Tokuko). Mourning the loss of her son, the child-emperor Antoku, the ex-emperor's widow crouches in the arrow-shot cabin of a ship. The widow of the ex-emperor was one of the few to survive the naval battle of Dannoura (1185), which brought about the downfall of the Taira.
Title: Genkurô Hangan Yoshitsune Dannoura ni Kenrei Mon'in o kyūjo nasu zu (Minamoto no Yoshitsune rescuing Kenrei Mon'in during the Battle of Dannoura).
Series: Shinsen azuma nishike-e (A new selection of eastern brocade pictures)
Signature: Yoshitoshi
Seal: Taiso
Engraver: Enkatsu tô (Noguchi Enkatsu)
Publisher: Tsunajima Kamekichi (Tsujiokaya Kamekichi), Tokyo
Date: Meiji 22 (1889)
Size: Ôban diptych, overall c. 37 x 50 cm (sheet size)
Excellent impression and colour, with three-coloured title cartouche, lustre and relief printing, well visible wood grain. Wide margins, unbacked, separate sheets. Margins a little bit soiled and slightly stained in places, upper margin of the right sheet minimally uneven, verso in top of each sheet two small paper strips from previous attachment. Overall very ggod condition.
Van den Ing/Schaap, Beauty & Violence, p. 136f, no. 55.22. Cf. also LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) Herbert R. Cole Coll., M.84.31.240; Philadelphia Museum of Art, no. 1989-47-526a,b (incorrectly dated); Portland Art Museum, no. 2017.5.1a,b; Tokyo National Museum, nos. C0043098, C0043099; Musées Royaux d'Art et d'Histoire, no. JP.04894 (via ARC Ritsumeikan).
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