Igawa Sengai: Wounded WWII Soldiers Exiting the Battlefield (Sold)

Artist: Igawa Sengai (1876-1961)
Title: The Extremely Heroic Three-Legged Messenger from the Nagao Troops in North China.
Date: January, 1938
Size: 41.6 x 28.4 cm
Series: Prints of the China Incident (Shina jihen hanga)

The Extremely Heroic Three-Legged Messenger from the Nagao Troops in North China. This is the fourth work in the series of seven designs. We see a solder whose bloodied eyes have been wrapped with bandages who half-carries a second soldier who has a wounded right leg. Between the three of them the have three good legs, hence the title. Both still carry their weapons, and we see what must be the smoke of battle behind them. 

The artist Sengai was a student of Tomioka Eisen, and later worked as an illustrator for the newspaper Miyako shinbun. He is best known for his bijin-ga (pictures of beautiful women) published in the 1920s and 30s. Scarce design from the series of seven. Included with the print is the original titled Japanese folder in grey.

Condition: Excellent impression and color. Very good condition. Some minor foxing in sky and upper margin.
Publisher: Shisei-do
Literature: Philip K. Hu, ed., et al., Conflicts of Interest: Art and War in Modern Japan, Saint Louis Art Museum, 2016, p. 291, no. 140.2, accession no. 1082: 2010. For the artist’s bijin-ga, see The Female Image: 20th Century Prints of Japanese Beauties, Amy Riegle Newland and Hamanaka Shinji, Abe Publishing Ltd and Hotei Publishing, 2000, p. 208.
Signature: Sengai 洗厓

SKU: SNG011