Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797-1861) One Hundred Brave Generals at the Battle of Kawanakajima: Takeda Samanosuke, 1845. Oban.
A very fine portrait of the fifteenth century general Takeda Samanosuke in a style pioneered by Kuniyoshi. Here is a riot of colour and pattern, the lower half of the print densely packed with detail and contrasting pattern, the upper half is a schematic rendering of a river battle, the small figures, in knots of combat, rendered in silhouette. There are so many terrific details here - the small swaggering figure on top of the helmet and the yellow, curved crescent of the mount, breaking the battle scene in the background; the dense finely drawn detail of the armour and richness of the brocade that forms a visual break between the portrait and the scene behind.
Takeda Samanosuke fought for Takeda Shingen of Kai Province, who conquered Shinano Province in 1547, expelling Murakami Yoshiharu and Ogasawara Nagatoki, who turned to Uesugi Kenshin of Echigo Province for help. A series of battles between the forces of Takeda Shingen and the forces of Uesugi Kenshin were fought on the plain of Kawanakajima in the northern Shinano Province near the modern-day city of Nagano. The five major battles took place in 1553, 1555, 1557, 1561 and 1564.
A great print, colour and impression are all fine, there is some wear but good condition over all.
Published by Kojimaya Jubei.
23 x 35 cm.
