Nunobiki no Taki Akugenta Yoshihira no Naniwa Jirō o Utsu 1880

This 1880 woodblock print, "Nunobiki no Taki Akugenta Yoshihira no Naniwa Jirō o Utsu," by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, depicts a scene of battle. The warrior, rendered in striking detail, is shown in dynamic motion, his armor reflecting the light and his face a fierce grimace. The use of swirling lines and dramatic perspective, characteristic of Yoshitoshi's work, adds to the energy of the image. This print is one of a series of prints by Yoshitoshi based on stories from the Japanese epic, "The Tale of the Heike." The warrior depicted is Akugenta Yoshihira, who fought against the forces of the Heike clan during the Genpei War (1180-1185). While the subject matter is historically inspired, Yoshitoshi's artistic style reflects the dramatic dynamism and bold use of color that defined the late Edo period (1603-1868).