Tsukioka (Taiso) Yoshitoshi (1839-1892)
A dramatic scene from the fourth battle of Kawanakajima in 1561 (also known as the Battle of Hachimanbara). Surrounded by thick clouds of gunpowder smoke from the rifle volleys of Uesugi Kenshin's advancing troops, a small group of samurai, armed only with swords and lances, hold out on a hill. The wounded leader of Takeda Shingen's troops, Yamamoto Kansuke (here called Dôki), sits on his prostrate horse. He must consider his tactics a failure and commits seppuku shortly afterwards.
Title: 川中嶋 大合戦 山本 道鬼 討没 之図 - Kawanakajima ō-kassen Yamamoto Dōki uchijini no zu (The Battle of Kawanakajima and the Death of Yamoto Kansuke).
Signed: Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi ga
Engraver: Hori Chô (Katada Chôjirô)
No publisher mark
Date: 1866, 6th month
Size: Ôban triptych, c. 35,5 x 73 cm (overall)
Excellent impression and colours. The three sheets unbacked and separate, only minimally trimmed. Collector's seal on each verso. Only light traces of creasing, else excellent condition. From a little later edition; the publisher's seal of Maruhei (Maruya Heijirô, Edo) was deleted from the block. A copy with the publisher's seal cf. Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), from the Yoshitoshi collection of Herbert H. Cole, M.84.31.320a-c.
Very rare also in this excellent later edition.
sold