The Beginning: Tokiwa Gozen Fleeing with Her Three Children (Hattan, sanshi o tomonatte Tokiwa Gozen hyorosu), from the series "The Life of Yoshitsune (Yoshitsune ichidai zue)"
c. 1832/34
Medium
Color woodblock print; oban
Dimensions
24 × 35.9 cm (9 7/16 × 14 1/8 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
26694
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
In this vibrant color woodblock print from Utagawa Hiroshige series *The Life of YoshitsuneYoshitsune ichidai zue)*, created around 1832–34, we witness a pivotal moment: *The Beginning: Tokiwa Gozen Fleeing with Her Three*. Hiroshige, a master of the uyo-e tradition famed for his evocative landscapes, here turns his eye to historical drama. The oban-sized print (24 × 35.9 cm) captures the legendary beauty Tokiwa Gozen—mother of the heroic samurai Minamoto no Yoshitsune—hurrying through a snowy night with her young sons, evading pursuers after the fall of their clan in 12th-century Japan. This scene draws from the epic tale of Yoshitsune, whose life inspired countless kabuki plays, noh dramas, and prints. Tokiwa's desperate flight symbolizes maternal sacrifice and resilience amid the Genpei War's chaos, marking the "beginning" of Yoshitsune's storied path to glory. Hiroshige's composition heightens the tension: dynamic figures contrast with a stark winter landscape, their cloaks billowing in the wind. As a fine example of Edo-period woodblock printing, the artwork showcases meticulous carving and layering of colors—blues, whites, and subtle gradients—for emotional depth. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia collection, it reflects ukiyo-e's cultural role in democratizing heroic legends for everyday viewers, blending artistry with Japan's rich storytelling heritage.
About the Artist
Utagawa Hiroshige · 1826–1869
Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858), born Andō Tokutarō, was the last great master of Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock printmaking and one of the most influential landscape artists in history. Born in Edo (modern Tokyo) into a low-ranking samurai family serving as fire wardens, Hiroshige transformed landscape printmaking into a poetic meditation on nature, weather, and everyday life. His revolutionary approac...