Study for a Battle Scene Drawing (Sold)

Artist: Unsigned
Title: Study for a Battle Scene
Date: ca. 1870s

Battle scene of a fully armored warrior cutting down a kneeling opponent. The legs of both men have been drawn in multiple positions. A red ink was employed for the design outline underneath the black sumi ink. Nearby combatants react with dismay, as perhaps the main two figures are leaders of their forces. The size indicates that this may have been designed for a double bookpage illustration, or perhaps for a chuban print. On the right are studies for Buddhist ascetics, including bald figures holding up bowls with wafting smoke. Compare these figures to the design in Yoshitoshi’s “100 Aspects of the Moon” that shows a holy man catching cassia seeds. It is possible that this drawing is by Yoshitoshi himself given the skill, level, but it is more probably from the hand of a talented student.

Condition: Laid down onto backing sheet.
Dimensions: 24.5 x 32 cm (paper size)
Signature: Unsigned

SKU: DRW462