The Work
Silkscreen, edition 84/185, signed by the artist
Frame: 73 × 59 cm (depth 1.5 cm) | Image: 52.5 × 39.5 cm
The great Buddha of Nara had stood for four centuries. Then, in a single night of war, it was gone. What does it mean to burn the sacred?
In 1180, the forces of Taira no Shigehira set fire to Tōdai-ji, destroying the Daibutsuden — the Hall of the Great Buddha — along with the colossal statue within. It was one of the most shocking acts of destruction in Japanese history, condemned even by those who ordered it. Takeda does not look away. He renders the moment with the unflinching clarity of someone who understands that history is not made of battles alone, but of what is lost in them.
Through his distinctly modern and satirical visual language, Takeda transforms this act of destruction into something that asks a quiet, persistent question: what do we burn, and what do we become when we do?
Condition & Presentation
The print is housed in a wooden frame with acrylic glazing. The frame shows signs of age — scratches and wear consistent with vintage framed works — which complement the historical atmosphere of the print. The print itself is in excellent condition with no damage.
About Hideo Takeda
Born in Osaka in 1948, Hideo Takeda studied sculpture at Tama Art University (M.A., 1973) before establishing himself as one of Japan's most distinctive satirical artists. In 1976, he received the Bungeishunju Cartoonist Prize. His work spans printmaking, illustration, and publishing — with over 150 solo exhibitions and 18 books to his name.
In 1993, Takeda held a solo exhibition at the Japanese Gallery of the British Museum in London, accompanied by the publication Takeda Hideo and The Japanese Cartoon Tradition at The British Museum. In 2006, he exhibited alongside the celebrated French illustrator Tomi Ungerer.
The Genpei series, published as a book by Kyuryudo in 1985, represents one of his most sustained engagements with Japanese historical narrative — reimagined through an eye that is at once irreverent, precise, and deeply felt.
Provenance documentation available on request.
Part of a triptych. Best experienced alongside The Fan Target and Drowning of Emperor Antoku. View the complete set →
