| | Stockno.: | 22-019 | Artist: | Tsukioka Yoshitoshi 月岡芳年 (1839-1892) | Description: | No. 61, Gojo Bridge moon (Gojobashi no tsuki) from the series One hundred aspects of the moon (Tsuki hyakushi).
Published by Akiyama Buemon in April 1888.
Depicted here is the famous fight between the elegant and strong child Minamoto Ushikawa or Ushiwakamaru (who would later turn into the legendary military general Minamoto no Yoshitsune 源 義経 c. 1159/1189) and warrior-priest Benkei (Saitō Musashibō Benkei武蔵坊弁慶 1155-1189) at the Gojo Bridge in Kyoto. Benkei surrenders and becomes his loyal retainer. Depicted many times over, usually the arching bridge forms the heart of the composition with a clear contrast of the brute and large Benkei with the young and elegant Ushiwaka. Here Yoshitoshi deviates from the imagery and singles in on Ushikawa mid jump, with as the backdrop the serene mountains instead of the bridge, throwing his iron fan (tessen) at his opponent.
| Signed: | Yoshitoshi, seal: Taiso. | Size: | Oban tate-e. | Condition: | Very good impression, colour and condition. Unbacked, thick paper. | Price: | Euro 750 SOLD | Reference: | Stevenson, pl. 61 | | | |
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