“Complete set of the 47 Ronin by Gekko”

“Complete set of the 47 Ronin by Gekko”

Gishi Shiju-Shichi Zu

義士四十

47 Ronin

Ogata Gekko

Meiji 1902

Complete series of 47 Oban Prints plus a Publisher’s Title page and Index (49 Woodblock Prints in total) bound in a contemporary album

Album 35 x 24cm approx

This album depicts the loyal 47 Ronin (masterless Samurai) who are celebrated in Japan culture.  In 1703 they took the life of Lord Kira Yoshinaki in revenge for their own lord’s death, after he had assaulted a court official. As punishment, the Shogun, Tsunayoshi, ordered the Ronin to be put to death. Due to huge public support, however, the Ronin were granted the honour of taking their own lives by ritual suicide – or Seppuku. The celebrated events were romanticised in plays which remain popular in Japan to this day – as they capture the Samurai qualities (Bushido) of loyalty, sacrifice, persistence and honour.

Gekko’s name “moonlight” reflects the ethereal and dreamlike format of his compositions. Growing up during the Meiji period he witnessed the rapid industrialisation and changes of Japan from its Samurai traditions. He sought to reflect traditional Japanese scenes, while being influenced by Western artistic composition and the technological advances in ink and printing techniques