Fifteen Generations of a Great Family Tree - Terrific woodblock print featuring two chuban designs from Yoshitoshi's rarely seen series "Fifteen Generations of a Great Family Tree." The series depicts the fifteen Tokugawa shoguns, along with a second image of Tokugawa Ieyasu and his four generals, needed to make an even number of pages for printing. Realistically drawn and rendered with vibrant color, these handsome images illustrate famous episodes from the lives of these great leaders, including scenes from courtly life, hunting, and military campaigns. The Boston Museum of Fine Arts has this series in its collection. An interesting series we've never offered before, in rare uncut format.

No. 13, the Twelfth Shogun, Lord Ieyoshi and No. 14, the Thirteenth Shogun, Lord Iesada - The top print shows Shogun Ieyoshi during a hunt, watching hunters galloping below from his position atop a dappled horse on a rocky hillside. He wears fur chaps and a distinctive hunting hat with a tubular crown, a bow in hand and a quiver of arrows at his back. The bottom design depicts Shogun Iesada seated beneath a pine tree on a hill top overlooking a harbor. During his reign, he signed treaties opening Japan up to foreign trade with five nations.

Artist - Yoshitoshi (1839 - 1892)

Image Size - 14 3/8" x 9 3/4"

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Small thinning spot, repaired. Slight soiling, a few light creases, slight rubbing at lower right corner. Please see photos for details. Nice overall.