Horse and Rider 1831 - 1889

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi made this woodblock print of a horse and rider in nineteenth-century Japan. The image captures a pivotal moment in Japanese history when the country was transitioning from a feudal society to a more modern, westernized nation. Yoshitoshi was one of the last great masters of ukiyo-e, the art of woodblock printing that flourished during the Edo period. As Japan opened to the West, ukiyo-e artists faced new challenges and opportunities. Many sought to adapt their traditional techniques to new subjects and styles, reflecting the changing times. Note, for example, the rider's unusual dress. Is he a soldier? Or is he acting in a play? By studying the visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations in Yoshitoshi's print, and by consulting archival sources such as newspapers, government documents, and personal letters, we can gain a deeper understanding of the complex social and political forces that shaped his art. We begin to appreciate the ways in which art reflects and challenges the norms of its time.