Taira no Tadamori and the Oil Thief, Yoshitoshi, 1885

Japan, 1885 series: yoshitoshi's warriors trembling with courage prints; woodcuts color woodblock print herbert r. Cole collection (m. 84. 31. 91) japanese art 平忠盛が白河上皇の側室通いにお供したとき、暗闇に怪しく光るものがあり、鬼か妖怪かと組み伏せてみたところ、油壺を手にした老いた法師が灯篭に火をともして回っているところだった、という平家物語の一場面を描いたもの。上皇は忠盛の冷静さに感激して側室を忠盛に下賜、側室は妊娠し、平清盛を産んだ。 taira no tadamori(1096-1153) found something lighting strangely in the dark at night. He thought it might be yokai or something, but actually it was an old monk who was lighting the stone lanterns with his oil pot. From the tale of heike. Date: 1885. Dimensions: Image- 12 15/16 x 9 3/16 in. (32.8 x 23.3 cm); Sheet- 13 15/16 x 9 9/16 in. (35.4 x 24.2 cm). Collection: Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Taira no Tadamori and the Oil Thief LACMA M.84.31.91