Form: Ukiyo-e, Mokuhan print
Published: 1878
Publisher: 月岡芳年 (Tsukioka Yoshitoshi)
Notes: Benkei in the foreground is crossing the Gojō Bridge with Yoshitsune in the background, and Benkei hangs clothes on his long sword, making it look as if he is waving a flag. The painting is a traditional Ukiyo-e woodblock print. The colouring is so vibrant and delicate that it's hard to believe it's Ukiyo-e. The background is dark, and the circle coloured in muddy yellow seems to be the moon, so these two people are dancing in the night. The font is not one of the modern digital fonts; it is hand-written by a craftsman of the time, so there is no specific font. However, it is influenced by traditional “Edo-moji,” which is often used on the billboard of Kabuki. At the top right, “meishō” means legendary. So, the use of Benkei, a historically well-known hero, is a perfect idea for this theme.
