Artwork

真柴秀吉公名護屋陣先手諸将繰出之図|Hideyoshi and His Troops Leaving Nagoya Camp (Mashiba Hideyoshi kō nagoya jin saki te no shoshō kuridashi no zu)

真柴秀吉公名護屋陣先手諸将繰出之図|Hideyoshi and His Troops Leaving Nagoya Camp (Mashiba Hideyoshi kō nagoya jin saki te no shoshō kuridashi no zu) is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Yoshitoshi. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Hideyoshi and His Troops Leaving Nagoya Camp is a triptych woodblock print created by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi in 1850. Composed of ink and color on paper, the work is part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a dynamic scene of Hideyoshi's troops departing Nagoya Camp, set beside a river. The composition highlights the movement of armored soldiers towards a bridge, accompanied by boats on the water and vibrant, curved-roofed buildings in the background.

Technique & Style

Yoshitoshi employed intricate techniques to achieve depth and texture. Notably, tiny lines were used to create dark, three-dimensional shadows on the ground and armor, while cross-hatching contributed to the overall visual depth of the scene.

History & Provenance

Created in 1850 by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, the triptych is currently held in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Context

This work reflects the ukiyo-e tradition of depicting scenes from Japanese history and daily life, with a focus on the renowned military leader Hideyoshi, emphasizing the artistic blend of realism and stylization characteristic of late Edo-period woodblock prints.

Legacy

As a late work in the ukiyo-e tradition, Hideyoshi and His Troops Leaving Nagoya Camp contributes to the preservation of historical themes in Japanese art, showcasing Yoshitoshi's contribution to the evolution of woodblock printing techniques in the 19th century.