Ghosts of the Taira at Daimotsu Bay
Original title: Ghosts of the Taira at Daimotsu Bay
kurzbeschreibung
Utagawa Kuniyoshi's triptych 'Ghosts of the Taira in Daimotsu Bay' (1843–47) plunges into a night-time sea battle, rendered as a colour woodblock print (nishiki-e) with ink and colour on paper. A ship packed with armoured warriors struggles amid towering waves.
Description
In the foreground a ship fights its way against a huge wave, crowded with figures in traditional Japanese armour, some fighting, some fleeing. Several sails rise faintly from the darkness. Beyond the breaking sea, further figures and sails become visible. Deep blues dominate water and night, while red and gold accents sit on the armour.
Context
The print dates from the Edo period, when woodblock prints circulated widely in Japan. Kuniyoshi often drew on historical battles and supernatural subjects. This sheet refers to the Battle of Dan-no-ura in 1185, in which the Taira clan was defeated; the ghosts of the fallen are said to have appeared afterwards in Daimotsu Bay. For such dramatic narratives, the triptych was a common format.
Impact
Dim light and rearing waves immediately put the viewer in a tense, sombre mood. Dark blue carries the scene, while bright accents on the armour draw the eye to the figures and heighten the unrest of the moment.
Technique
The triptych was made using woodblock prints in the nishiki-e technique, in which separate blocks printed each colour. Sharp contours and flat areas of colour come from this process. Printing was done with ink and colour on paper, and each impression was produced in a multi-stage operation.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)