Tokiwa Gozen in the Snow – Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Wise and Virtuous Women

A mother shields her children from a snowstorm while cranes fly overhead. Under a wide white hat, Tokiwa Gozen bends forward against the wind, her blue kimono patterned with large circles. Utagawa Kuniyoshi turns a desperate flight into an image of courage and tenderness, with the snow drawn as a dense veil of white dots.

Why it works on your wall

• A strong story at a glance: a beautiful choice for a living room, a study or a hallway.
• Blues, whites and soft reds: winter colours that suit modern and classic interiors alike.
• Framing tip: a thin black frame keeps the graphic strength of the ukiyo-e print.

The story

Tokiwa Gozen was the wife of the warlord Minamoto no Yoshitomo. After his defeat in 1160, she fled through the snow with her three young sons, one of whom would become the famous samurai Minamoto no Yoshitsune. To save them, she later gave herself up to their enemy. Kuniyoshi included her in his series Stories of Wise and Virtuous Women (Kenjō reppuden), around 1842.

• Artist: Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861)
• Series: Stories of Wise and Virtuous Women
• Technique: Japanese woodblock print (ukiyo-e)

Your print

• Colours restored from a high-definition scan of an original impression
• Printed in Europe on thick archival matte paper, FSC certified
• A wide choice of sizes, all designed for standard frames
• Free shipping, no minimum order. Shipped rolled in a sturdy tube

Discover all our Kuniyoshi prints and our Japanese woodblock prints.