Denzaemon Chiba was a celebrated swordsmanship teacher and dojo master of the Edo period who appears in popular fiction as a colorful figure of martial culture. This print depicts him holding a severed head—a motif drawn from the repertoire of Yoshitoshi's muzan-e, or bloody prints, that scandalized and fascinated audiences during the 1860s. The dojo context frames the violence within the martial tradition, presenting the severed head as a trophy of battle rather than mere gore.
1888
Color woodblock print; oban
n.d.
Color woodblock print
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Denzaemon Chiba with severed head was created by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (月岡芳年) in description.
Denzaemon Chiba with severed head depicts figures, warriors, and portraits.
