Vrouwelijke krijger Tomoe Gozen in harnas met zwaard op paard

About this artwork

verzamelaarsmerk, rechtsonder, gestempeld: Lugt 1381b

Art Historical Context

This striking color woodcut by Kitao Shigemasa portrays the legendary female warrior Tomoe Gozen, a celebrated figure from 12th-century Japan, riding into battle in full armor with her sword drawn. Created between 1770 and 1780, the tall, narrow format identifies it as a hashira-e, or pillar print, designed to hang on the vertical supports of a traditional Japanese home. Shigemasa, active during the golden age of ukiyo-e, brought a refined elegance to warrior subjects, blending dynamic movement with the delicate linework and vibrant colors typical of woodblock printing. The medium of color wo...

About the Artist

Kitao Shigemasa · 1739–1820

Kitao Shigemasa (1739–1820), born in the bustling Nihonbashi district of Edo (modern Tokyo), emerged as a pivotal figure in ukiyo-e woodblock printing during Japan's Edo period. The eldest son of the bookseller Suharaya Mohei—from a lineage of publishers—Shigemasa, originally named Kitabatake Tarōkichi, was immersed in the world of printing from youth. Largely self-taught, he later studied under t...