"Man with Knife on Rooftop" is a preparatory drawing from the second half of the 1860s, showing Yoshitoshi's working process before transferring a composition to woodblock. The figure crouches on a rooftop in the posture of a ninja or assassin, the knife drawn and expression intent. Rooftop confrontations were a staple of Edo adventure fiction, and this study likely relates to a commissioned print of a burglar hero or spy figure. The sketch shows Yoshitoshi's fluid command of figure drawing in a preliminary stage.
1888
Color woodblock print; oban
n.d.
Color woodblock print
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Man with knife on rooftop was created by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (月岡芳年) in second half 1860s.
Man with knife on rooftop depicts figures, night scenes, and warriors.
Man with knife on rooftop measures 35.4 × 24.8 cm (Oban format).
