Page 196 - Christies Japanese and Korean Art Sept 22 2020 NYC

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TSUKIOKA YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)
Cho Jun, the White Stripe in the Waves, Wrestling in the River
with Ri Ki, the Black Whirlwind
Woodblock print, signed Oju Yoshitoshi hitsu, sealed Taiso, published
by Matsui Eikichi, 1887
Vertical oban diptych: 14Ω x 9¬ in. (36.7 x 24.5 cm.) each (2)
$4,000-6,000

This dynamic vertical diptych shows Rorihakucho Chojun (a strong
swimmer) wrestling underwater with the famous warrior Kokusenpu
('Black Whirlwind') Riki, who was known to be a weak swimmer.

209
TSUKIOKA YOSHITOSHI (1839–1892)
Lu Chi Sen in a drunken fury smashing the guardian figure at
the temple on Five-Crested Mountain
Woodblock print, signed Yoshitoshi, with artist's seal Yoshitoshi no in,
published by Matsui Eikichi, 1887
Vertical oban diptych: 15 x 10¿ in. (38 x 25.7 cm) and 10¡ x 10¿ in.
(36.3 x 25.8 cm.) (2)
$4,000-6,000

This dramatic design depicts the tattooed military captain Rotatsu
(Lu Chi Sen), who escaped the death penalty for killing a man
in a fit of rage by becoming a monk at a temple. However, he
was unable to reform his behaviour and one night staggered back
to the temple drunk and accidentally knocked down part of the
gate, revealing a large Nio [guardian statue]. He was startled by the
looming statue and in his drunken state attacked it.

210
TSUKIOKA YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)
Seigen Daraku no zu (The Depravity of Abbot Seigen)
Woodblock print, signed and sealed Yoshitoshi, published by
Hasegawa, circa 1889
Vertical oban diptych: 14√ x 10º in. (37.7 x 26 cm) and 14¬ x 10¿
in. (37.2 x 25.6 cm.) (2)
$4,000-6,000

208