Published 1883, The Execution of Prince Morinaga belongs to Historical Triptychs. Gekkō’s historical triptychs revisited famous episodes from Japanese and East Asian history on the expansive three-sheet format. Produced during the Meiji period, they helped connect the modern nation to a selective visual memory of emperors, warriors, loyal retainers, and celebrated legends.

The title identifies the design’s particular figure, episode, object, or place, anchoring Gekkō’s composition in a larger network of historical narrative and cultural association. The catalog identifies men, story, sword, and women among the principal motifs. Gekkō uses their relationship to clarify action, season, setting, and narrative emphasis rather than treating them as interchangeable decoration.

The three-sheet format creates a broad visual field suited to simultaneous action, opposing forces, processions, or panoramic space; the joins between sheets also structure the narrative rhythm.

Additional information

Editions

First Edition

Publisher

Shiba Sadajiro

Size

Oban triptych

Subjects

men, story, sword, women

Year Published

1883

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