Woodblock Printed Triptych of Anglo-Satsuma Shimonoseki War Disguised as a scene from the Mongol invasion of 1281
[Japan] Scarce, woodblock printed triptych by Utagawa Yoshitora (active c.1850-80) with a title referring to the second Mongol invasion that took place in the year Kōan 4 (1281), however we can see guns and cannons being used which of course didn't exist in the 13th century. For this reason, it is thought that this illustration is a scene from the Bombardment of Kagoshima (or Anglo-Satsuma War) that took place in 1863, just under a year after the Namamugi Incident. It appears that Yoshitora found a way to get around government censors who would not have approved an illustration of a battle that the Japanese lost. The censor seal indicates the triptych was published in April 1866, almost three years after the event, so that may be another reason the image was approved and not recognized as being an illustration of the event.
[Edo]. Maruya Tetsujirō. 1866.
Each panel approx. 37.5 x 25cm.
In very good condition with only minor age wear. A few tiny chips at bottom edges. Unbacked with nice bleedthrough. u36071663
