Minamoto no Yoshiie on horseback and a bird on a branch, from an untitled hexaptych depicting a pair of folding screens

Art Historical Context

This elegant color woodblock print by Ryūryūkyo Shinsai, created around 1825, captures a moment from Japanese history and legend. It depicts the celebrated samurai Minamoto no Yoshiie—known as Hachimantarō—seated proudly on horseback, paired with the delicate image of a bird perched on a branch. The sheet forms part of an untitled hexaptych designed to evoke a pair of folding screens, a format that invites viewers to imagine the composition unfolding across multiple panels in a refined interior setting. Shinsai, a pupil of the great Katsushika Hokusai, specialized in surimono—privately commissioned woodblock prints renowned for their exceptional craftsmanship and often issued in limited editions for poetry circles or special occasions. These works frequently combined historical or literary subjects with poetic inscriptions, showcasing the refined tastes of early nineteenth-century Edo society. The small shikishiban format (roughly 21 by 18.4 centimeters) allowed for intimate viewing, while the medium’s precise lines and subtle color gradations highlight the artist’s skill in rendering both the dynamic energy of the warrior and the quiet grace of the natural motif. As a work from the Arts of Asia collection at the Art Institute of Chicago, this print exemplifies the cultural importance of ukiyo-e in preserving and reinterpreting Japan’s martial heritage. Through its layered imagery and luxurious production, the piece bridges historical narrative with the aesthetic pleasures of the floating world, offering modern viewers a glimpse into the storytelling traditions of late Edo-period Japan.