Picture of the Heike Clan Sinking and Perishing at Sea
- Date:
- 1853, 6th lunar month
- Medium:
- Woodblock print (nishiki-e), ink and color on paper
- Format:
- Oban
- Dimensions:
- 36.5 × 24.1 cm
- Source:
- Minneapolis Institute of Art
Description
"Picture of the Heike Clan Sinking and Perishing at Sea" (sixth lunar month of 1853) is one of Yoshitoshi's earliest known prints, produced when he was just fourteen years old—possibly under close supervision of his master Kuniyoshi. The print depicts the catastrophic defeat of the Taira (Heike) clan at the naval Battle of Dan-no-Ura in 1185, when the child Emperor Antoku was drowned along with the Taira's surviving forces and the imperial treasures. The subject—one of the most dramatic in all Japanese history—tests the young artist's command of crowd composition and turbulent water.
More Prints by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
More Seascapes Prints
Child of the Sea
1940
Woodblock print
The Beach at Kaiganji in Sanuki Province (Sanuki Kaiganji no hama), from the series "Collection of Views of Japan II, Kansai Edition (Nihon fukei shu II Kansai hen)"
1934
Color woodblock print; oban
Pacific Ocean, Awa Province (Boshu Taikai), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Third Series (Tabi miyage dai sanshu)"
Boshu Taikai
1925
Color woodblock print; oban
Pine Beach at Miho (Miho no Matsubara), from the series "Selection of Views of the Tokaido (Tokaido fukei senshu)"
September 1931
Color woodblock print; oban
Frequently Asked Questions
Picture of the Heike Clan Sinking and Perishing at Sea was created by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (月岡芳年) in 1853, 6th lunar month.
Picture of the Heike Clan Sinking and Perishing at Sea depicts seascapes.
Picture of the Heike Clan Sinking and Perishing at Sea measures 36.5 × 24.1 cm (Oban format).