Actors Ichikawa Danjuro IX as Nasu no Yoichi Munetaka and Nakamura Fukusuke IV as Tamamushi Gozen 1885

This woodblock print by Toyohara Kunichika, created in 1885, depicts a scene from the Japanese epic tale "The Tale of the Heike." The print, titled "Actors Ichikawa Danjuro IX as Nasu no Yoichi Munetaka and Nakamura Fukusuke IV as Tamamushi Gozen," shows the famed archer Nasu no Yoichi on horseback, aiming his arrow at a target in a distant boat. The vibrant colors and dynamic composition, typical of Kunichika's work, capture the dramatic moment and the power of the warrior. This captivating artwork, now held in the Art Institute of Chicago, exemplifies the enduring appeal of Japanese theater and historical narratives.