Toyohara Kunichika (1835-1900) Takeda Shingen During the Kanawakajima battles between 1555 and 1564, 1862. Oban triptych.
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This exceptional survivor is a triptych by Kunichika from 1862. Prints by Kunichika from the early 1860’s are very scarce indeed. They come from a period when he was leaving the studio of his master, Kunisada, and embarking on his own career as a freelance artist. Fairly unknown in 1862, he was to become the most productive, distinctive and well known of the Meiji artists.
This triptych is unusual in Kunichika’s work. Firstly this is a battle scene - a musha-e; secondly, it is not a scene played out by kabuki actors as were nearly all of Kunichika’s late prints. What is interesting is how like the battle scenes of Kuniyoshi this design is, particularly in the rendering of the warriors' faces. The scene is from the mid-sixteenth century struggle for power in medieval Japan; the battles of Kawanakajima which were fought in the Sengoku Period of Japan between Takeda Shingen of Kai Province and Uesugi Kenshin of Echigo Province in the plain of Kawanakajima, to the north of Shinano Province. There were five battles in all, the fourth culminating in the Uesugi forces reaching the Takeda command post, when one of the most famous single combats in Japanese history ensued.
A tremendous print, very much in the Utagawa School manner. There is a beautiful use of silhouette in the background figures and tremendous movement in the battle scene foreground, moving from the collapsed tent to the left to the horses in the sea at the right. I am always reminded of similar scenes in Renaissance pictures and especially Uccello’s Battle of San Romano in London.
The print is full size with original margins. There is some foxing, especially to the embossed banner; otherwise the condition is very good, colour and impression are both very good. A copy of this print exceeded expectations and sold for €1200 in 2022.
75 x 37 cm.
