Painting of a samurai from the 1920's or 30's

[Robert S]

This is the central image of a scroll painting that was purchased by my family in Japan in the late 1920's or 30's.  It was pretty obviously painted around that time, significantly influenced by western art, and was probably aimed at the tourist market.  I find it interesting though that he was portrayed carrying a tachi, plus a companion blade in the edge-up position.

[Bruce Pennington]

The tsuka looks like a tachi (forgive if the term is wrong).

[Baka Gaijin]

Tachi and Kodachi

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodachi

[Matsunoki]

Tachi and Tanto were often worn together and the smaller sword here looks like a Tanto whilst the larger is a Tachi.

[Jacques D.]

4 hours ago, Baka Gaijin said:

Tachi and Kodachi

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodachi

Kodachi is wore edge downwards i bet for a tanto

[Abaris]

Why not a wakizashi? Why a tanto?

[Bugyotsuji]

Or even an artist's impression of a handachi?

[Matsunoki]

39 minutes ago, Abaris said:

Why not a wakizashi? Why a tanto?

Because it was normal to wear Tachi/Tanto daisho.Also the tsuka of the short sword looks like a classic tsuka for a Tanto and with a very small Tanto style tsuba. The Koshirae look to be depicting true daisho mounts and Tachi/Tanto is the classic pairing. 

But, without being able to examine the swords you are free to interpret it however you wish.

[Brian]

As Colin said, traditionally wakizashi/katana or tachi/tanto.

[Abaris]

Thank you for the reply. Nice to know!

[Jacques D.]

Wakizashi or tanto? It all depends on the era, until the early Muromachi, the tanto was the tachi's companion. Later, with the advent of the katana, the wakizashi replaced the tanto, gradually. The obligation to wear the daisho made the tanto disappear for good. During the Shinto period, tanto was almost never forged. Note that for formal events the wakizashi was worn with the tachi.

 

Ikeda tsuneoki, Nobunaga's son