7021 - Ukiyo-e Color Woodblock Print, Utagawa Yoshitora, Sugawara no Michizane Riding an Ox Under the Full Moon, Japan

Ukiyo-e Color Woodblock Print, Utagawa Yoshitora, Sugawara no Michizane Riding an Ox Under the Full Moon, Japan An impressive, portrait-oriented Japanese woodblock print by the 19th-century artist Utagawa Yoshitora, depicting the famous Japanese scholar, poet, and statesman Sugawara no Michizane (845–903), also known as Kan Shōjō. The striking composition shows the scholar, dressed in magnificent dark-blue court robes adorned with floral motifs, seated on the back of a black ox. He holds an open document in his hands, his gaze fixed thoughtfully on the lines. In the background, the widely spreading branches of a Japanese pine tree stretch out against a gently rolling landscape. A large, brightly shining full moon creates an atmospheric contrast to the rich blue tones of the clothing and the dark areas of the ox. The finely rendered patterns on the robes, the detailed depiction of the animal, and the harmoniously coordinated color scheme underscore the artistic quality of the composition. Sugawara no Michizane is considered one of Japan’s most significant historical figures. After his death, he was venerated as Tenjin, the guardian deity of scholarship, poetry, and education. The ox is regarded as one of his most important symbolic companion animals and is closely associated with his traditional iconography. In the upper left corner of the image is a multi-line Japanese poem inscribed in historical script. In the lower right corner is the artist’s signature in Japanese, presumably “Yoshitora ga,” along with a rectangular seal. The exceptionally elongated composition corresponds to the traditional Japanese hanging format and lends the depiction a particularly stately appearance. • Artist: Utagawa Yoshitora, 19th-century Japanese woodblock print artist\ • Origin: Japan\ • Technique: Color woodblock print on paper, ukiyo-e\ • Subject: Sugawara no Michizane riding a black ox beneath a pine tree and a full moon\ • Period: Edo or early Meiji period; exact date of printing is uncertain\ • Signature: Japanese artist’s signature in the lower right, presumably “Yoshitora ga”\ • Inscription: Multi-line Japanese poem in the upper left\ • Seal: Rectangular Japanese seal in the lower part of the image\ • Execution: Portrait-oriented composition in the tradition of Japanese hanging scrolls\ • Framing: Black wooden frame Dimensions: approx. 81 × 31.5 cm The exact date of printing, as well as whether this is a contemporary original print or a later reprint, cannot be definitively determined.