Kato Kiyomasa Hunting Tigers in Korea - Tsukioka Yoshitoshi

A dramatic woodblock triptych by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi depicting the samurai Kato Kiyomasa in a fierce encounter with tigers during the Imjin War.

This triptych by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi depicts the legendary Japanese general Kato Kiyomasa during the Imjin War in Korea. The scene captures a dramatic encounter between the samurai and tigers, a subject rooted in both historical accounts and folklore surrounding the general's military campaigns. Yoshitoshi, a student of Kuniyoshi, demonstrates his mastery of the musha-e (warrior print) genre through the dynamic poses of the figures and the tension present in the composition.

The work is divided across three panels, creating a wide, cinematic view of the rugged terrain. On the left, tigers are shown in aggressive postures, their striped forms rendered with bold, graphic lines. The central and right panels focus on the samurai, who are depicted in full armour, brandishing spears and swords. The artist uses a palette of deep greens, earthy browns, and muted reds to ground the action within a dense, mountainous setting. The facial expressions of the warriors are intense, conveying the ferocity of the conflict.

Yoshitoshi was active during the final years of the Edo period and the early Meiji era, a time of significant social change in Japan. His prints often explored themes of history, mythology, and the supernatural. This specific print reflects the interest in heroic narratives that remained popular among the public. The attention to detail in the armour and the stylised representation of the animals are characteristic of the artist's approach to woodblock printing. The composition balances the chaotic energy of the hunt with the structured arrangement of the figures across the three sheets, providing a clear narrative flow from the tigers on the left to the armed samurai on the right.