The artwork, named “Taira no Kiyomori sees the skulls of his victims,” was created by the artist Tsukioka Yoshitoshi. It belongs to the Ukiyo-e art movement and falls under the genre of genre painting.
The artwork depicts a dramatic scene in which Taira no Kiyomori, a historical figure, gazes upon the skulls of those he has presumably sent to their death. The composition is rich in detail and employs typical Ukiyo-e elements such as vivid color, intricate textile patterns, and meticulous attention to the environment surrounding the central figures. The winter landscape is depicted with snow-covered trees and structures, contrasting starkly with the warm, dynamic hues of the figures’ garments. The narrative quality of the artwork is enhanced by the expressions and postures of the characters, infusing the scene with tension and a haunting sense of past actions manifesting visibly before the protagonist.
