Hashiba Chikuzen no Kami Hideyoshi Cutting a Melon 1887

This is Tsukioka Yoshitoshi’s woodblock print depicting Hashiba Hideyoshi cutting a melon. The print presents us with a study of contrasts in both form and content. Hideyoshi, the central figure, stands in full armour with a melon in one hand and a knife in the other. His stance is firm, almost confrontational, drawing our eyes to the interplay between the sharp lines of his weapon and the soft curves of the melon. In contrast, an older man bows low before him, his posture defined by yielding curves and a submissive gesture. The composition uses a juxtaposition of vertical and horizontal elements, and the power dynamic is further underscored by the use of colour: the vibrant reds and golds of Hideyoshi’s armour against the muted tones of the kneeling figure's robes. This is not just a rendering of a historical moment, but a calculated arrangement of shapes, colours and textures, designed to investigate themes of power, submission, and the tensions inherent within social hierarchies. In the end, we are left to contemplate this stark visual statement on authority.