OROCHIMARU AT THE DRAGON KING WATERFALL

N.1 ukiyo-e woodblock print
Year: 1866
Condition: good
Size: 18 x 24,5 cm

SOLD

Description

Orochimaru (大蛇丸), master of serpent magic and arch-enemy of the ninja Jiraiya (自来也) of which he had once been a follower, is practicing at the Dragon King waterfall (龍王の滝) the technique of separating the spirit from the body, in order to evade the guards of the Sarashina family (更科家) who protect Princess Tagoto (田毎姫), the unwilling object of Orochimaru’s affection, who wants her for his wife.

The precious woodblock print, taken from the famous series “Sagas of Beauty and Bravery” (美勇水滸伝) by the artist Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (月岡芳年), was produced in October 1866 by the publisher Omiya Kyujiro (近江屋久次郎), owner of Kiyudo (亀遊堂).

The print on Japanese washi paper (和紙), despite the obvious signs of aging, is in overall good condition.