65 Tsukioka Yoshitoshi 1839 – 1892 Namikiri Jūzaborō with Drawn Sword

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

The samurai Namikiri Jūzaborō looks back over his shoulder, sword in hand, having knocked off his own hat for a better view. The print belongs to the series Kinsei kyōgiden, depicting dramatic episodes from the lives of courageous men and warriors of the late Edo period.

Here Yoshitoshi reveals his early mastery of psychological tension and movement, which he would later develop into a fully mature narrative style. The precise linework, dynamic composition, and expressive gesture already anticipate the power and refinement of his Meiji-era masterpieces.