Samurai on White Horse in Reed Field
Sold – no longer available
This piece was handmade by Tōjō Shihō and was a one-of-a-kind work. It cannot be reordered and will never exist in this form again. The page stays online as part of our archive.
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Details about the sold piece
- Height 194 cm
- Width 62 cm
- Item Type Kakemono
- Jikusaki Wood
- Material Honshi Silk
- Period of Creation Meiji (1868–1912)
- Technique Hand-Painted
- Unique Work Yes
No longer available
Description
In full armor and with mane flying, a samurai gallops on his white horse across an autumnal grass field, while in the distance a formation of migrating birds crosses the sky – a dynamic scene full of movement and tension.
The elaborately worked armor in tones of green, orange, and gold, as well as the flowing feather ornament of the helmet, attest to great attention to detail, while the horse and landscape are rendered in motion with a loose brush style. Created in the Meiji period on silk, the painting bears a signature and red seal; the jikusaki ends are made of wood.
Depictions of samurai on horseback are among the most striking motifs of Japan's historical genre painting and directly convey the spirit of vigor and martial virtue. This kakemono is a vivid testament to this pictorial tradition and an appealing eye-catcher for any collector.
