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.

Toyohashi (Yoshida) in Mikawa Province - Terrific portrait of the great warrior Oda Nobunaga astride his horse at Toyohashi, the site of a battle between the Oda and Imagawa clans. He glares over his shoulder as the battle rages around him, clouds of smoke filling the sky, with rows of swords and spears just visible. He wears a fine robe over his armor and a battle helmet topped with golden feathers, and grips the green and white striped reins of his horse with one hand. The landscape inset above takes the form of two panels of a folding screen, showing a bridge across a wide river with mountains in the distance and the tower of a castle at lower right. The Boston Museum of Fine Arts has this image in its collection. A great design with wonderful detail in the samurai's colorful armor.

Artist - Yoshitora (active circa 1840 - 1880)

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

Condition - With excellent color and detail as shown. Most prints have several wormholes, repaired, blends well. Slight soiling. Please see photos for as sense of individual condition. Nice condition overall.