Yoshitoshi 芳年: Katada Bay Moon--Saito Kuranosuke (sold)

Artist: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892) 芳年
Title: Katada Bay Moon--Saito Kuranosuke
Series: One Hundred Aspects of the Moon 月百姿
Date: 1885

Saito Kuranosuke leads his horse to the entrance gate of his nurse’s home on Katada Bay, on the western shore of Lake Biwa. This print is extremely poignant once the story is known. Kuranosuke served Akechi Mitsuhide, who killed Oda Nobunaga in 1582. Mitsuhide was soon killed and his retainers dispersed. Kuranosuke and his son fled to Katada bay and took refuge in the hosue of his former nurse. Although they were discovered and Kuranosuke paid the ultimate price, his son was allowed to live and became a monk, spending his life praying for his father’s soul. Here we see Kuranosuke in a very quiet moment that is also full of small details that relate to his predicatment. As Stevenson notes, he has no foture and he hopes for safety. His horse looks at him with rather uncertain eyes. This impression is superior to the example shown in Stevenson’s book on this series.

Condition: Excellent impression, color and condition.
Dimensions: ôban 35.6 x 24 cm
Publisher: Akiyama Buemon
Literature: John Stevenson, Yoshitoshi’s One Hundred Aspects of the Moon (San Francisco: San Francisco Graphic Society, 1992), number 65. See British Museum, Portland Art Museum.
Seal: Taiso
Signature: Yoshitoshi

SKU: YOT845