The artwork titled “Yorimasa Shooting at the Monster Nuye” was created by Utagawa Kuniyoshi around the year 1845. This woodcut artwork belongs to the Ukiyo-e art movement and is classified as a mythological painting. Currently, it resides in a private collection.
The artwork vividly depicts the legendary archer Yorimasa in an intense moment of action. Yorimasa is shown in ornate, traditional attire, symbolizing his stature and prowess. With an arrow poised in mid-flight towards the nefarious Nuye, whose presence is implied rather than explicitly shown, the composition captures a dramatic and heroic instance. The use of bold colors and intricate patterns accentuates the tension and dynamism of the scene, reflecting the stylistic finesse characteristic of Ukiyo-e prints. This mythological portrayal not only highlights the supernatural elements of the story but also emphasizes the valor and skill of the historic figure, Yorimasa.
