The first time I saw the painting of S.H. at
http://www.miburo.com/info/truesait.jpg by Nakajima Nobori (N.N.) a
couple of years ago I thought...I've seen that posture before...the
whole stepping on some poor guy's back...now I think I'm making some
connections and I have gathered some proof.
Many of you have seen the painting of Hijikata staring into the
distance wearing a traditional outfit with a tiger design and holding
a signalling flag. Obviously, the tiger design was not draw merely
for the sake of aesthetics...but also symbolism...Hijikata's ferocity
as a warrior. To see the pic go here
http://www.tamahito.com/
(Hijikata is on the right and Kondo is on the left). So my point
is...he uses symbolism in his work.
Basically, many gods in both the Chinese and Japanese Buddhist
pantheon are derived from the Hindu pantheon (they just go through a
name change just like Greek>>>Roman gods/goddesses).
So just recall S.H. portrait by N.N. and look at these sculptures of
Bishamonten
http://www.ackland.org/art/exhibitions/buddhistart/students/nrclark/
http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/bishamonten.shtml
same or similar postures can also be found in depictions of Siva or
other major Hindu goddesses with just one foot on the
dwarf/yaksha(usually giants but made small next to a god/goddess) of
ignorance/fear.
Keep in mind that N.N. is an artist and he painted all these portraits
-and- wrote his memoirs while he was a prisoner of war...so he had
plenty of time to think...this was also probably part of his own
personal healing process and a way to salute people he had fought with
(he took to the field on numerous occasions during major battles
during the opening of the Boshin war and at Aizu, and he went w/
Hijikata to Hakodate). So N.N. like all artists are a bit romantic
(the guy did own a firearms store AND cultivated orchids too
geez)...note how his portrayal of the mysterious 17 year old heroine
of Aizu is shown in battle with a beautiful kimono etc.
The Japanese webpage which displayed his work was sadly deactivated
due to inactivity
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Palace/8636/bekkan.html
To me, his work is very valuable...each person has unique features,
some faces capture, fear, anger, pain...one had a man with his hands
over a leg wound but he looked eager to return to the battle...one was
of a very young boy had blood streaming down his ankles. The images
are graphic but very honest.
I have an old thread at
http://www.shinsengumimb.com about N.N.
http://p076.ezboard.com/fshinsengumiheadquartersfrm17.showMessage?topicID=11.topic
Just a side note...I know I'm repeating myself from old posts but his
info on the people he painted are innaccurate...take for instance the
guys who stayed to fight at Buddha Hall didn't all DIE...a couple
survived I think one guy lived to be 90! But I and perhaps a couple of
you too may wonder if he didn't make these mistakes on purpose
sometimes just to cover for his buddies. If he painted these while a
prisoner I imagine a guard tapping him on the shoulder and asking
prison guard: "who are those guys?"
N.N.: "They are friends and sadly they have all perished" (puts the
back of wrist to forehead).
prison guard: "oh, okay carry on..."
N.N. proceeds to paint and paint 40 works
Eventhough N.N. seemed to have painted them for himself, who would buy
portraits of the loser Shinsengumi? N.N. was the son of a merchant and
I doubt N.N. was a career artist. Atleast the prisoners around him
must've seen his work because I've seen photos of an exhibit (online
and each portrait was around -I'm guessing- 2.5").