Katsushika Hokusai, "Raven with Minamoto Sword"

Hokusai pays homage to the one of Japan's greatest clans, the Minamoto clan, and shows a raven carrying the legendary Kogarasu Maru sword. The sword is said to have been in the possession of the Minamoto family for many generations. This is a later edition woodblock print reproduced in the Meiji-period.

Date: ca. 1890 (originally ca. 1822)
Format: Surimono
Condition: Toning, ink marks on margin, otherwise very good condition

Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) is an icon in the world of Japanese art, design, and woodblock prints. So much has been written about his life as an artist, and his art, making his woodblock prints some of the most treasured in the world.