A woodblock print by Torii Kiyonaga depicting a historical hunting scene from the Fuji no Makigari, featuring mounted archers and attendants.

This woodblock print by Torii Kiyonaga depicts a scene from the Fuji no Makigari, a grand hunting event organised by the shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo in 1193. As a master of the Ukiyo-e tradition, Kiyonaga is recognised for his ability to integrate historical narrative with the aesthetic sensibilities of the Edo period. This specific work represents the left half of a larger diptych, capturing the dynamic energy of the hunt.

The composition is divided into distinct zones. In the upper section, a mounted archer is shown in pursuit of game, with deer fleeing across the terrain. The lower section focuses on a group of attendants and hunters on foot, one of whom holds a dog on a lead. The figures are rendered with the elongated proportions that characterise Kiyonaga’s mature style, providing a sense of grace and movement to the scene. The use of colour is restrained, relying on a palette of soft ochres, muted greens, and earthy tones typical of the period's printing techniques.

Kiyonaga’s work often moved away from the intimate portraits of beauties that dominated the era, turning instead toward larger, multi-sheet compositions that allowed for more complex storytelling. The inclusion of Mount Fuji in the background provides a sense of scale and geographical context, grounding the historical event within the Japanese landscape. The print demonstrates the technical precision of the woodblock medium, from the fine lines defining the archer's bow to the subtle textures of the attendants' garments. This piece offers a glimpse into the way historical events were reimagined and consumed by the urban population of Edo, blending legend with the artistic conventions of the late eighteenth century.