Handsome and Brave Heroes of the Suikoden - In 1866, Yoshitoshi began work on a fantastic 50 print series called the "Handsome and Brave Heroes of the Suikoden" (Biyu Suikoden). Instead of depicting the traditional characters from the novel "Suikoden," Yoshitoshi chose to use his own set of heroes from Japanese history and legend for this series. He also incorporated spirits and monsters, resulting in a very unusual and creative twist on the classic Suikoden theme. These bold and lively images feature beautifully colored and detailed figures in striking poses, many with supernatural or magical creatures. Some feature deluxe embellishments such as embossing or burnishing. These early chuban designs by Yoshitoshi are a great choice for a collector interested in this legendary tale. 

Otomo Wakanahime by a Spider Web - Fantastic woodblock depicting Princess Wakana, the beautiful daughter of Lord Otomo no Sorin, a 15th century daimyo of Bungo province. Wakana studied magic, and had a special affinity for spiders, from which she learned magic spells. She smiles as she looks over her shoulder, holding a scroll recording the spells. Behind her, a giant spider lurks in its web, the delicate web radiating around it and cherry blossoms petals fluttering down through the gray night sky. She wears an elegant kimono patterned with a spider web, her long black hair flowing down her back. Beautiful cloth embossing in the white areas of the kimono. An excellent choice for a collector interested in Japanese folklore.

Artist - Yoshitoshi (1839 - 1892)

Image Size - 9 3/4" x 7"

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. A few small holes, repaired. A few creases at edges. Please see photos for details. Nice overall.