Yoshitoshi 芳年: Imperial Carriage Crossing the Oi River for the Restoration of Imperial Rule Ceremony
Artist: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi 芳年 (1839-1892)
Title: Picture of Landscape at the Ôi River on the Tokaido 東海道大井川風景之圖
Date: 1868, 8th month
Fascinating “reportage” of the scene of the Imperial carriage crossing the Ôi River on the Tokaido in 1867, heading to Tokyo/Edo. The occasion was no less than the ceremony ”taisei hôkan” 大政奉還, the restoration of the imperial rule–the transfer of the power from Tokugawa Bakufu, the shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu, back to Emperor Kômei, whose death followed shortly after. The Meiji emperor succeeded subsequently. In the center of the procession in the river, we see the imperial carriage with a golden phoenix on the roof, hôren 鳳輦, which is flanked by rows of soldiers, some carrying the red imperial flag with white chrysanthemum. We see the westernizing changes that are evident in the dress and weapons of the imperial guardsmen; many of them are wearing western jackets and hats and carry rifles instead of swords. They ford the river in orderly lines of formation, each group carrying banners, flags, and standards of many shapes and sizes. Some of the banners take several men to hold aloft, and the flapping in the wind of the banner at right shows a great deal of effort on the part of the artist as well as the standard-bearers. The front man holding this large banner-pole even walks backwards so that he can make sure to keep the pole completely straight. The mounted horseguard contingent is dressed entirely in the traditional Japanese style; it seems to be the only one that has stuck to tradition completely. On the far shore are ranks of men in perfect rows, all of them kneeling towards the emperor. Behind them are the curtains of the encampment. Mount Fuji rises behind the waiting men, no doubt a scene of the strength of Japan. The scene is so detailed that one wonders if Yoshitoshi really saw this himself, or at least something similar. Yoshitoshi signed it “made upon order”, so perhaps it was commissioned by the Imperial government itself. Scarce.
Condition: Excellent impression and color; very good/good condition. Some wrinkles and nibbles to right edges of paper. Completely untrimmed at top and left.
Dimensions: ôban triptych each sheet approx 37.6 x 25 cm
Publisher: Yamashiro-ya Jinbei
Literature: Keyes number 229. Signature: Kaisai Yoshitoshi made upon order 応需魁斎芳年画
SKU: YOT921