Yoshitoshi: Bloody sea battle (Sold)

Artist: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
Title: Bloody sea battle
Date: 1864

Masakiyo Conquering Korea. Due to censorship laws that forbid depicting current events, this gruesome sea battle is seemingly illustrating the 16th c. invasion of Korea by Katô Kiyomasa (Masakiyo). This bloody rout of foreigners by sword-wielding Japanese is more truly depicting the enragement felt by Japanese of the British bombing Kagoshima harbor in 1862 as retaliation for the death of an English merchant. The British were the victors, so this scene is more like wish-fulfillment on the part of Yoshitoshi.

Condition: Excellent impression and color; very good condition. Untrimmed and unbacked. Minor creasing.
Dimensions: ôban triptych (36.5 x 74 cm)
Publisher: Maruya Jinpachi
Literature: Keyes #103; Illustrated in Yoshitoshi: Masterpieces from the Ed Freis Collection, 2011, number 21 page 67.
Seal: Kiri
Signature: Ikkeisai Yoshitoshi ga

SKU: YOT641