ITO HIKOZO (1904-2004) Takayama Hikokuro
Showa era (1926-1989), mid-20th century
Showa era (1926-1989), mid-20th century
£4,000 - £5,000
Looking for a similar item?
Our Japanese Art specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.
Find your local specialistITO HIKOZO (1904-2004)
Showa era (1926-1989), mid-20th century
Kakejiku (hanging scroll), ink and colours on silk in silk mounts, depicting the Imperial loyalist samurai rebel Takayama Hikokuro in flight from the shogunal authorities, wearing a resigned yet determined expression as he contemplates the next stage of his exile, signed at lower right Ito Hikozo kinsha with two seals, the first Ito Hikozo; with a double fitted wood tomobako storage box inscribed outside Takayama Hikokuro sensei zu (Portrait of Master Takayama Hikokuro) and signed and sealed inside Ito Hikozo. Overall: 198cm x 54cm (78in x 21¼in); image: 114cm x 34.5cm (44 7/8in x 13 5/8in) (3).
Footnotes
Takayama Hikokuro (1747-1793) was an important early pioneer of the imperialist movement that sought to restore the status of the Japanese emperor and drive the shogun from power, a movement that would come to fruition long after Takayama's death with the Meiji Restoration of 1867-8. Forced to commit suicide by the shogunal authorities at the early age of 46, during the 1930s Takayama was upheld as an exemplar of loyalty to the Emperor and appeared frequently in wartime patriotic propaganda materials. Better known as an illustrator than as a painter, Ito Hikozo played an active part in the preparation of such materials and would naturally have been attracted to Takayama as a subject, painting him several times.