This color woodcut was included as plate 6 in a portfolio titled 'Ten Woodcuts by Yoshijiro Urushibara' done in 1924 and published by John Lane in London in 1924. The portfolio included an introduction by Laurence Binyon. The woodcuts were cut and printed by Urushibara after watercolors by his friend and collaborator, British artist Frank Brangwyn.
Urushibara hand printed an edition of 250 plus 20 artist's proofs that were not offered for sale. He used different Japanes papers and signed 7 of the images with pencil, in the European tradition and the other 3 with his seal signature in red ink, the Japanese way.
'The Shepherd's Watch' is a universal work depicting shepherds gathered around a fire at night, protecting the flock. It could be the middle east, Europe or almost any agricultural country.