Sight Height 6.5 in., Width 5 in. Framed Height 23 in., Width 19 in. This Japanese woodblock print depicts a mounted samurai warrior in full yoroi armor -- the distinctive lamellar armor of the Japanese warrior class -- galloping at speed while drawing an asymmetrical daikyu longbow, a full quiver of arrows visible at his back, in the dramatic action-filled style characteristic of the musha-e or warrior picture genre that flourished in the Edo and Meiji periods. The subject of the mounted samurai archer references the ancient martial tradition known as yabusame -- described by samurai themselves as kyuba no michi or the way of the horse and bow -- which was so central to samurai identity that skilled mounted archery was considered the primary martial virtue long before the sword became the defining samurai symbol, with celebrated historical feats of mounted archery including Nasu no Yoichis legendary arrow shot at the Battle of Yashima in 1185 forming the subjects of popular Edo-period prints and theatrical performances. The print belongs to a tradition of samurai warrior imagery produced in great quantities for popular consumption during the Edo period and its Meiji continuation, with leading artists in the genre including Utagawa Kuniyoshi -- known as Warrior Kuniyoshi -- whose disciples Tsukioka Yoshitoshi and others continued the tradition into the Meiji era, and Keisai Eisen whose 1838 series Buyu sakigake zue depicted similar mounted warrior subjects. A calligraphic inscription appears in the upper right corner and should be examined by a Japanese language specialist to identify any artist signature, title, series name and date that would assist in attribution. Condition appears good with toning consistent with age.
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