Yoshitoshi: Death of the followers of Mitsuhide at the Battle of Yamazaki 尼崎 大合戰 武智 主従 討死 之 圖 (山崎) (戦)

Artist: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892)Title: Death of the followers of Mitsuhide at the Battle of Yamazaki 尼崎 大合戰 武智 主従 討死 之 圖 (山崎) (戦)   Date: 1865, 5th month "The death of the principle followers of Takechi Mitsuhide at the great battle of Yamazaki"  (Yamazaki ô-kassen Takechi shujû uchijini no zu). Mitsuhide and his retainers have run out of options on the bank of the Enmyôji-gawa River. On the far bank we see the silhouettes of the two opposing forces clashing in the dark. In the left panel sits Mitsuhide, still mounted upon his expired steed, and pierced with a jumble of arrows. He rests on his sword, his face turned towards the battle in the distance. A gravely wounded standard-bearer limps up the slope, bleeding badly from many wounds, including an arrow through his cheeks. The retainer who is seated at left, who does not seem wounded by battle, seems to be committing seppuku by taking his knife to his own abdomen, his innards spilling out in a red and gruesome flow. One soldie