Saigo Ryusei Kubi jitsu ken|Presentation of the Head of Saigo to the Prince Arisogawa
16
ink
From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art
16
ink
From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art
Saigo Ryusei Kubi jitsu ken|Presentation of the Head of Saigo to the Prince Arisogawa is a 16 ink by Yamazaki Toshinobu, a Impressionism work, held at Metropolitan Museum of Art.
This print shows three chaotic scenes of soldiers in bright red and dark blue uniforms. One man is being dragged by his feet, his head dangling. Others stand around, some holding swords or pointing. The background has buildings with red gates and banners with Japanese writing. The colors are bold—reds, purples, and golds—with sharp black outlines. The middle panel focuses on the man’s head being presented to a seated figure in a raised chair. The text above reads like a headline, and the whole scene feels staged for drama. This was made right after a famous conflict in Japan. Look up The Metropolitan Museum of Art to see this print in person.
