66 Tsukioka Yoshitoshi 1839 – 1892 Mizushima Umon

from the series Kinsei kyōgiden (“Biographies of Modern Men”)
publisher: Iseki (Manyō-dō)

Mizushima Umon stands barefoot, holding a pistol beside a bundle of spears, ready for battle. This print comes from the early series Kinsei kyōgiden, depicting real and semi-legendary figures connected to the violent gambling conflicts in Shimōsa Province around 1849.

Yoshitoshi portrays these heroes and outlaws with dramatic vigor and psychological intensity, anticipating the expressive power of his later works.The tense pose and focused expression convey a moment of moral resolve — between action, loyalty, and fate.