Sano Genzaemon Tsuneyo Cutting His Potted Trees to Warm Hojo Tokiyori, 1883 - Wonderful scene of Sano Genzaemon Tsuneyo kneeling in the snow, holding a beautiful bonsai in a ceramic pot with one hand, while raising his knife to chop it into firewood. When a monk arrived unexpectedly at Tsuneyo's rather shabby home, the poor man and his wife treated the surprise visitor with as much honor as they could, even burning Tsuneyo's prized bonsai trees to cook a meal for him. The monk was actually the retired regent Hojo Tokiyori, in disguise during an intelligence gathering mission. Tokiyori peers around the edge of the tattered shoji screen, his hands spread apart as he warms them at the fire. Flames and smoke billow from the fire in the floor brazier, and two sparrows swoop through the winter landscape at left. A fascinating subject, finely drawn with Yoshitoshi's characteristic attention to detail.

Artist - Yoshitoshi (1839 - 1892)

Image Size - 13" x 8 3/4" + left margin as shown

Condition - This print with excellent detail as shown. Paper remnants on reverse at top corners from previous mounting. Stitching holes from previous binding and thinning at left edge, repaired. Slight toning and soiling, a few creases. Please see photos for details. Good overall.