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.

Okazaki in Mikawa Province: The Old Story of Yahagi - Wonderful design from the story of the meeting at Yahagi from the life of Ushiwakamaru, who later became the warrior Minamoto no Yoshitsune. He attracted the attention of the beautiful Princess Joruri of Yahagi by serenading her with his flute. The young samurai is shown playing the flute under the light of a full moon, dressed in colorful robes and delicately embossed white hakama pants. The landscape is still behind him, a lone boatman poling his craft across a river, the towers of a castle looming in gray shadow on the opposite bank. The princess is depicted in the inset above, kneeling beside a koto, her long hair flowing over her shoulders. The Boston Museum of Fine Arts has this image in its collection. A lovely image from the life of this famous samurai, with fine shading in the water and night sky.

Artist - Yoshitora (active circa 1840 - 1880)

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

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Wormholes, some prints have losses at edges, repaired. Slight toning, soiling, and creasing. Some prints have wrinkling. Please see photos for details.