Yoshitoshi: Itô Enrin and the Spectral Cat (Sold)

Artist: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
Title: Itô Enrin and the Spectral Cat. He is stabbing himself so as not to fall asleep on night duty.
Series: Azuma no nishiki ukiyo kôdan (Tales of the Floating World on Eastern Brocade)
Date: 1867

In the Edo Period one form of popular street entertainment was story-telling about heroes, mysteries, etc. Here Yoshitoshi illustrates the famous story of Itô Enrin or Yosôta, who is here depicted in a room of his lord in Saga, Province of Hizen, Kyûshû. On the night of his lord’s banquet, a mysterious spectral cat would appear. As Enrin had night duty, he was so loyal to his duty that he tried to keep awake, even piercing his thigh with a small knife. The story was written by Kanagaki Robun (1829-94).

Condition: Excellent impression, color and condition.
Dimensions: ôban
Publisher: Masuda-ya
Literature: See “Beauty & Violence”; listed on page 105 as 20.14.
Seal: censor’s seal “aratame” with date seal of Rabbit Year (1867)
Signature: Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi

SKU: YOT392