Yoshitoshi: “Battle at Forest of Ikuta: Plum Blossoms on Kageyoshi’s Ebira Armor” (Ikuta no mori: Ebira no ume) (Sold)

Artist: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
Title: “Battle at Forest of Ikuta: Plum Blossoms on Kageyoshi’s Ebira Armor” (Ikuta no mori: Ebira no ume)
Series: From “Snow, Moon and Flower of Bravery” (Buyu setsu-getsu-ka no uchi)
Date: 1867

This series shows three famous bravery scenes, relating to Minamoto-no-Yoshitsune and the battle sites of the snow, the moon and the flower. Kajiwara Genta Kagesue in the center (1162-1200) was fighting for the Minamoto clan against the Taira clan. He was known not only as a loyal brave fighter but also as a very cultivated samurai, poet and musician. It is famous that he had a branch of plum blossoms on his ebira armor when he fought in the Ikuta Forest, representing Minamoto-no-Yoshitsune. Here he fights in front of a large plum tree, of which blossoms are scattered on the ground. From the right Iwakuni Saburô Morishige, Kagenobu, Emi Jirô Yukimoto fighting with Noto Kosaburô Kagemori, and Kajiwara Heiji Kagetoki on the horseback.

Dimensions: ôban triptych
Publisher: Ki-ya Sojiro
Seal: carver’s seal: hori-kane (on the center sheet), Koizumi-hori-Kane (on the left sheet)
Signature: Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi ga

SKU: YOT268C