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KUNIYOSHI, Utagawa  (1797 - 1861)

The ghost of Yoshihira at the Nunobiki waterfall

Signed:                  Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga, with kiri seal Publisher:             Ise-ya Sanjiro Censor's seal:     kiwame Date:                      1825 Size:                       oban triptych (c. 36 x 24. 5 cms / c. 14 1/8" x 9 1/2", each sheet) Condition: Very good impression, fine, fresh color, minimally trimmed at top, else fine condition. A spectacular and, for the time, modernistic artistic design. ref. no.:              # K2620 Price:                 € 2,650.00

The scene depicts the ghost of Akugenda Yoshihira (1141-1160) striking down his murderer, Namba Jiro, at the Nunobiki waterfall before Kiyomori and his suite, by wielding the supernatural fire which Kuniyoshi loved to depict; quite an unusual and novel stylistic element at the time, we find such depictions in many of his later works. Reference, a.o.: - B. W. Robinson, Kuniyoshi- The Warrior prints, London, 1982, no. T10, ill. pl.38. - Bidwell Collection, Springfield Museum of Fine Arts, Springfield, Mass.; 1980; cat. no. 4. - Lühdorf Collection, Kunstmuseum Düsseldorf; 1990, cat. no. 227.

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