Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892)
‘The Demon Ibaraki disguised as an old woman fleeing with a severed arm’ (Roba kiwan o mochisaru zu), from the series ‘New Forms of Thirty-Six Ghosts’ (Shinkei sanjuroku kaisen), 1889
Woodblock print, 1st edition with three-colour cartouche
Signed and sealed: 'Yoshitoshi'
Publisher: Sasaki Toyokichi
Dated: 'Meiji 22, 4th month, 12th day' (12th April 1889)
Signed and sealed: 'Yoshitoshi'
Publisher: Sasaki Toyokichi
Dated: 'Meiji 22, 4th month, 12th day' (12th April 1889)
Vertical oban:
36.9 x 25.2 cm. (14 ½ x 9 ⅞ in.)
36.9 x 25.2 cm. (14 ½ x 9 ⅞ in.)
Very good impression and colour of the 1st edition, with extensive embossing and strong woodgrain, good condition overall, a few minute nicks to edges and very minor toning.
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The demon Ibaraki-doji flies through the air clutching a severed arm. According to the legend, Ibaraki-doji was a demon who became a follower of Shuten-doji, the leader of a gang...
The demon Ibaraki-doji flies through the air clutching a severed arm. According to the legend, Ibaraki-doji was a demon who became a follower of Shuten-doji, the leader of a gang of demons terrorising Kyoto in the 10th century. On one occasion, Ibaraki encountered the warrior Watanabe no Tsuna who cut off one of his arms. In order to retrieve the arm, Ibaraki disguises himself as an old woman and successfully tricks Watanabe into showing the arm, and Ibaraki manages to steal back his arm and disappears into the sky - the moment depicted in this dramatic print by Yoshitoshi.
A similar impression is in the collection of the Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, object no. 1985.4, go to:
https://hvrd.art/o/201642
A similar impression is in the collection of the Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, object no. 1985.4, go to:
https://hvrd.art/o/201642