Calligraphy and Pictures for the Fifty-three Stations - Terrific design from a Tokaido Road series pairing images with verses in calligraphy for the different stations. Different artists contributed designs, including Yoshitora and Kunisada II. The large pictures include landscapes, figures from history and legend, and scenes from kabuki plays and folktales. Several prints feature comic illustrations, including the adventures and mishaps of Kita and Yaji, the bumbling travelers from the popular novel "Shank's Mare." Others include travelers in Western attire or distinctly modern Meiji subjects. These imaginative prints are beautifully detailed with attractive color and fine line work, and offer an interesting Meiji era take on the classic Tokaido subject. A great choice for collectors interested in life along the Tokaido Road.

Mitsuke in Totomi Province: The Historical Site of the Tenryu River - Fantastic image of the warrior Minamoto no Yoshitsune and his faithful retainer Benkei, the warrior monk, leaping through the air over the water. Both men are dressed in armor, with Yoshitsune wearing a horned battle helmet topped with a dragon. Benkei has a traditional monk's cowl wrapped around his head. They seem to float in mid-air, arms outstretched and knees tucked up as they aim for the wooden dock below. The verse above is enclosed in a set of horns like those on Yoshitsune's helmet, and the inset at left shows a spray of grasses. A great design with fine detail in the armor, lively color, and soft shading in the water and sky. The Boston Museum of Fine Arts has this image its collection.

Artist - Yoshitora (active circa 1840 - 1880)

Image Size - 13 1/4" x 8 5/8" + margins as shown

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Faint toning, soiling near edges. Please see photos for details. Good overall.