previous page

view print

KUNIYOSHI, Utagawa  (1797 - 1861)

Gempei seisuiki: Izu no kuni Yamaki kassen 'Yoritomo's attack on the Yamaki palace at night takes Kanetaka and his retainers by surprise'

Signed:                  Ichiyusai / Chooro Kuniyoshi ga Publisher:             Yoshu-ya Kinzo Censor's seal:      Muramatsu Date:                       c. 1842-3 Size:                        oban triptych (c. 36. 5 x 25. 5 cms / c. 14 3/8" x 10", each sheet) Condition: Fine impression and color, slightly rubbed, else very good condition. Provenance: B. W. Robinson collection ref. no.:              # 601913 Price:                 € 1,750.00

The scene depicts the attack on the palace of YAMAKI by YORITOMO and his followers in 1180. The TAIRA nobles, taken by surprise without their armour, are streaming out in the foreground, still in their court robes.The rivalry between the two clans is a frequent subject in Japanese prints. NOTE: The preliminary sketch (shita-e) for this triptych is in the collection of the National Museum of Ethnology in Leiden, NL, and is illustrated in: - M. Forrer, Drawings by Utagawa Kuniyoshi; The Hague, 1988, p. 73, cat. no. 51. A worked out version of several of the figures in the foreground is reproduced in: - Loewenstein, Die Handzeichnungen der japanischen Holzschnittmeister; Plauen, 1922, pl. XV See also: B. W. Robinson, Drawings by Utagawa Kuniyoshi (Lieftinck coll.); Groningen, 1953, no. 11. Reference: - B. W. Robinson, Kuniyoshi- The Warrior prints, London, 1982, no. T123, ill. p.112. (this impression)

NOTE:   Kuniyoshi also depicted the attack in a FAN PRINT, of which we can offer the following preliminary drawing (shita-e): - Please ask for details and a larger picture. -

   previous page                                                                 view print