Yoshitoshi: Sogo Goro Gallops Bareback to Oiso Triptych (Sold)

Artist: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892) Title: Soga no Goro Gallops Bareback to Ôiso to Avenge his Father’s Death Date: 1885 We feel the speed of the horse and the determination of the young rider in this amazing design, where the figures almost burst free from the page, and no background is visible, only the white of the wind. This is from the 12th century story, The Revenge of the Soga Brothers, which was a popular subject for Noh, bunraku and kabui. Here the young Soga no Goro uses a bamboo branch to goad his horse to speed in order to reach his brother; he uses a striped cloth as reins and seems to have only a rope to hooks his toes into as stirrups. His too-young face is determined, and the Chinese-style brushwork of the horse is done in a style that is rather unusual for a Yoshitoshi print, but conveys the vigor of the horse in a spectacular fashion.  The translation of the brushstrokes into woodblock by the engravers  is also a testament to Meiji expertise. During Yoshitoshi’s t