Eastern Brocades, Day and Night Compared - Designed in 1886, Chikanobu's extraordinary "Eastern Brocade" series features a fantastic range of subjects, including brave warriors, eerie ghosts, timeless beauties, and famous figures from traditional tales of triumph and treachery. These beautiful images bring the history and legends of Japan to life with colorful characters and a wonderful attention to detail. Note the appealing compositions and fine printing in these Meiji era masterworks, many of which include deluxe treatments such as burnishing, embossing, or the addition of mica. These attractive designs are a nice choice to collect or display.

Prince Oto no miya Morinaga, No. 50 - Dramatic scene of the samurai Ashikaga Tadayoshi trying to execute his prisoner, Prince Oto no miya Morinaga, the son of exiled Emperor Go Daigo. Ashikaga Takauji wanted to become shogun himself, so he arrested Morinaga and charged his brother Tadayoshi with guarding him. When Hojo troops rebelled against the Ashikaga, Tadayoshi decided to kill Morinaga rather than risk his going free. Here the prince's wife tries to intervene as Tadayoshi surprises the prince at his writing table, sending him falling backwards as he attacks, his sword held overhead. The inset above shows the prince's bloody head paraded about on the end of a sword. The composition effectively conveys the chaos of the situation, with letters flying and the wife's robes tangled up under her husband. Nicely detailed with delicate embossing in the white kimono.

Artist - Chikanobu (1838 - 1912)

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

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Small loss and thinning at right edge, repaired. Slight toning and soiling, slight rubbing at edges, a few creases. Please see photos for details. Good overall.