Item from the Mokuhankan Flea Market

The Story of Sakura Sogo (Two sheets)

Size: 36.0cm by 23.5cm (14.17 in by 9.25 in) | Enlargement | Shipping Code: [L] ?

Designer: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi

Era: Meiji | Currency: $ / £ / €

Price: ¥ 30,000$ 229.00£ 185.00€ 215.00 [Item has been sold]

Description: This is a diptych from the series 'Shin Sento Nishiki-e' (New Selections of Eastern Brocade Pictures). It depicts the story of Sogo, a farmer who sacrificed his life by directly begging the shogun (which was illegal), to ease the taxes on their fellow farmers and save them from starvation. His story of bravery has been passed down in the form of kabuki plays and ukiyo-e prints.

Before going to see the shogun, Sogo goes home to say a final farewell to his family. This is the moment that Yoshitoshi chose to represent here. In the end, Sogo's family was punished with the death penalty together with him. In the scene, his kids are overjoyed to see him again not really realizing their destiny. His wife, on the contrary, and given her body attitude seems to have realized what will happen, she is hugging his baby against the floor, as if she was hanging strongly to her son's life.

It is interesting how Yoshitoshi also gave some details of the state of the house, some dirty walls, the torn paper on the shoji doors and the lamp ... as if the family destiny was already announced through these objects.

These prints are backed and have toning, soiling, and creases. But they are in good condition overall for their age remaining nice color.

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