Karukaya Dōshin Refusing to Recognize Ishidōmaru 1881

"Karukaya Dōshin Refusing to Recognize Ishidōmaru" is a woodblock print created by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi in 1881. The print depicts a dramatic scene from the Japanese historical play "Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees," in which the aging warrior Karukaya Dōshin, despite knowing his former comrade Ishidōmaru, refuses to acknowledge him. This refusal is symbolic of the conflict between loyalty and ambition within the play, and the image captures the emotional weight of this moment through the expressive faces and body language of the figures. Yoshitoshi's use of vibrant colors and dynamic composition further enhances the dramatic impact of this powerful scene.