However I did a google image search for Yoda’s lightsaber in ep. II & III and it looks just like the lightsaber in this painting. I also looked at pictures of Yoda from TPM, the original version, and I couldn’t see him carrying a lightsaber. So I guess this could have been made based on some early AOTC artwork, but until I find a specific date I’ll still be somewhat confused by this one.
The TPM Visual Dictionary provided an image of Yoda’s lightsaber hilt.
Ah right, that explains it. Thanks.
(I wonder he choose by though. Green would have been much more predictable. I’m guessing he assumed that Yoda would never have an actual lightsaber duel in the movies so he just chose the colour he thought looked nice.)