Demons of illness and poverty stalking the Seven Gods of Fortune, Meiji Period
Date
circa 1900
Credits
- Tsukioka Yoshitoshi 2 Artist
Format
- Print 248
Media
Techniques
- painting 40
- printmaking 27
Dimensions
1378 × 2878 in
Locations Made
- Japan 264
The triptych, Demons of illness and poverty stalking the Seven Gods of Fortune, was created by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, a renowned Japanese woodblock printmaker during the Meiji Period. Widely known as one of the last ukiyo-e genre artists, his work was influential to Meiji modernism.
The work features two demons of poverty and illness on the left plaguing two of seven lucky gods, Ebisu and Daikoku. As a great smallpox epidemic swept Japan, many were killed or left in ruins due to its effects. The piece was made as a talisman for homes to ward off against evils spirits or bad luck during this time.
Two demons (left) approach gods Daikoku and and Ebisu (right) who hide underneath a magic rice bag from them.