This extraordinary, action-packed triptych depicts a popular scene from the novel
Nanso Satomi hakkenden [Tale of the Eight Dogs of the Satomi of Nanso]. Inuzuka Shino, who has been falsely accused of spying, is fighting the forces of Inukai Kenpachi on the roof of the Horyuji Temple. Kenpachi is under orders from Lord Nariuji to capture Shino.
This impression is an early printing, characterised by the strong wood grain in the sky and yellow colour of the of the river, which later changed to blue and white, and later still to just blue.
Other impressions of this triptych are in the collections of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston (see www.mfa.org accession numbers 11.39555a-c, 17.3209.63-5) and the British Museum (see www.britishmuseum.com museum number 2008,3037.18312).
The print is accompanied by a fax copy of the letter from the director of the Nagoya City Museum to the owner requesting the loan of the print for the 1996 exhibition.
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