Description
Akechi Hidemitsu (明智秀満), the famous Japanese samurai of the Sengoku period (戦国時代), is depicted here, after the loss of Battle of Yamazaki (山崎の戦い) and the death of general Akechi Mitsuhide (明智光秀), during his legendary crossing of Lake Biwa (琵琶湖) on horseback to get from Otsu (大津) to Sakamoto (坂本) where he set fire to the castle and killed himself to follow his lord to the grave.
This fascinating polychrome woodblock print, entitled “Akechi Samanosuke Mitsutoshi” (明智左馬之助光利), was made by the artist Toyohara Chikanobu (豊原周延) and produced, in May 1899, by the publisher Fukuda Hatsujiro (福田初次郎).
The print on Japanese washi paper (和紙), despite the right signs of aging, is in overall very good condition.
