Horse Washing Falls

Katsushika Hokusai created the iconic or Yoshino Waterfall, Where Yoshitsune Washed his Horse on woodblock and ink on paper in 1832. This art print has vivid imagery of a waterfall cascading down a mountain side whilst two commoners wash the famous general Minamoto no Yositsune's (1159 - 1189) horse. Legend has it that during one of the generals' campaigns he fled from his older brother and whilst escaping stopped to rest and wash his favourite horse beneath this waterfall. Hokusai has immortalized this Japanese legend with his well balanced composition and enchanting colour palette and carefully balances warm and cool colours creating contrasts between water, rock and earth in this captivating piece of Japanese history.