Artist: Ochiai (Utagawa) Yoshiiku
Title: Bloody Murder by Moonlight
Series: 28 Famous Murders with Verse (Eimei nijûhasshûku)
Date: 1867
Kijin Omatsu holds her right sleeve in her teeth as she uses a black cloth to wipe the blood and guts from her sword. In what is perhaps a dubious distinction, she is the only female murderer depicted in this series of 28. Omatsu is one of those perennial VILLAIN characters that are loved by stage and literature. We see a full moon behind her as she stands on the shore. Her victim’s corpse is behind her, its hand clutched in death. Half of this series was done by Yoshitoshi, and half by Yoshiiku. The earliest editions (as here) had extra substances added to the printed blood on top of the print to make the blood look more shiny and gruesome.
Condition: Very good impression, color and condition. Untrimmed and unbacked. Very light streak in lower grey area, crossing Omatsu’s foot.
Dimensions: ôban
Publisher: Sano-ya Tomigorô (Kinseidô)
Seal: Kiri
Signature: Ikkeisai Yoshiiku ga
SKU: YII013S
