Utagawa Kuniteru (1808 - 1876) Sumo Wresters Entering the Ring, 1863. Oban Triptych.
This is a fine genre sumo piece by the artist Utagawa Kuniteru, known as Kunitsuna II until 1864. He was a pupil of both Toyokuni I and Kunisada and had a long artistic career, being an artist who saw the complete change in Japanese society throughout the nineteenth century.
Pictured here is a charity sumo match organised to raise funds for a temple. A powerful, architectural design, it offers an accurate view of contemporary events in Edo Japan. Sumo subjects were popular at this time because of government crackdowns on kabuki theatres and the prohibition on actor prints. The public found, at least temporarily, new heroes in the wrestlers until the reforms were relaxed a few years later.
Fine colour and detail on this print, a good impression and overall good condition except for some scuffing and small trim to right hand edge.
