Kiyomori Sees Hundreds of Skulls at Fukuhara, No. 22

by Yoshitoshi (1839 - 1892)

Current Status

Kiyomori Sees Hundreds of Skulls at Fukuhara, No. 22 by Yoshitoshi (1839 - 1892)

Original Yoshitoshi (1839 - 1892) Japanese Woodblock Print
Kiyomori Sees Hundreds of Skulls at Fukuhara, No. 22

Series; New Forms of Thirty-six Ghosts

Yoshitoshi's Thirty-Six Ghosts - In this incredible series, Yoshitoshi illustrated thirty-six of his favorite tales from Japanese history and legend. From charming folk stories to bloody tales of revenge, the series is the work of the artist's maturity and Yoshitoshi explores the subjects with great subtlety and psychological perception. As interesting to Yoshitoshi as the ghosts and monsters, are the human beings to whom they appear. Yoshitoshi was immensely popular in the last years of his life and the ghost series was greeted with great enthusiasm and a rush to collect among the Japanese public.

Today, prints from Yoshitoshi's Thirty-six Ghosts series are some of the most highly sought after prints on the market. A wonderful area of collecting for the Yoshitoshi enthusiast.

Kiyomori Sees Hundreds of Skulls at Fukuhara, No. 22 - Fantastic image of the ruthless leader Taira no Kiyomori inside his Fukuhara mansion. In his quest for political power, the brutal Kiyomori killed or crushed any opponents who stood in his way. In his later years, he was haunted by his actions, and began to see the spirits of those he had murdered. Here, the sliding shoji screen has turned into a nightmare of a giant skull with gaping black eyes. The grizzled old warrior grips his sword in a vain attempt to vanquish his demons, his unshaven face covered with stubble. A haunting and memorable scene, beautifully detailed with soft shading, delicate embossing in the white robe, and burnishing along the edges of the screen. A great samurai subject.

Artist - Yoshitoshi (1839 - 1892)

Image Size - 9" x 13" + margins as shown

Condition - With excellent color and detail. Some light rubbing and soiling at edges. A horizontal crease at center. A few small holes repaired from reverse. Please see photos for details. Nice overall.

Kiyomori Sees Hundreds of Skulls at Fukuhara, No. 22 by Yoshitoshi (1839 - 1892)
Kiyomori Sees Hundreds of Skulls at Fukuhara, No. 22 by Yoshitoshi (1839 - 1892)

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