The Fan Target

The Work

Silkscreen, edition 52/185, signed by the artist
Frame: 59 × 73 cm (depth 1.5 cm) | Image: 39.5 × 52.5 cm

One of the most celebrated scenes in Japanese literature. A fan, a wave, an arrow. But where others paint glory, Takeda finds something else entirely — look closely at who is watching.

At the Battle of Yashima in 1184, a Heike warrior placed a fan atop a pole on the prow of a boat and challenged the Genji to shoot it down. Nasu no Yoichi accepted. His arrow found its mark. The crowd — on both sides — erupted in admiration. It is a scene of extraordinary beauty, and of profound absurdity: a moment of shared wonder in the middle of a war that would end a dynasty.

Takeda does not simply illustrate the feat. He asks what it means that both armies stopped to applaud. Through his distinctly modern and satirical visual language, the image becomes a meditation on spectacle, on the strange codes of honour that govern violence, and on the human need to find grace even in destruction.

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 Burning of the Great Buddha Hall and Drowning of Emperor Antoku. View the complete set →