Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797-1861) Illustration of Heroes with Distinguished Names (Yuushi-Komyo no Zu): Shizugatake no Tatakai, 1847 - 52. Oban Triptych.
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Kuniyoshi produced many musha-e (warrior) triptychs in the late 1840’s and early 1850’s. The prints revel in the bravery and violence of feudal Japan, seeking an audience restless for change and looking back to a time of heroes and heroic values. Japan had become decadent and lazy… samurai classes, unwanted in hundreds of years of peace, wandered the streets of the cities like hungry wasps, visiting brothels or picking fights they could not lose. Kabuki dramas, endless multi-volume novels and woodblock prints all recounted a better-seeming and more glorious history.
The great mythic tales; the legendary accounts of battles that appeared in volumes from the time such as The Tales of the Heiki fuelled this interest in the feudal past… ironically as Japan prepared to embrace a modern, industrialised future.
In this triptych, Illustration of Heroes with Distinguished Names, (sometimes translated as Picture of Famous Brave Warriors), Kuniyoshi illustrates the Battle of Shizugatake from 1583. This battle was to decide the future of Japan for years to come. The clash between the Oda clan following the death of Oda Nobunaga and the all powerful Hideyoshi was fought at a series of forts in the Omi Province. The outcome was a stunning and unexpected victory to Hideyoshi.
Kuniyoshi, no doubt for political reasons, fails to name any of the combatants and I cannot find a reference to the distinctive skulls and crossbones banner in the centre sheet. The print is rare in as much as there seems to be none in any known museum collections but there is a copy on the Kuniyoshi Project website, half way down the page. It should be noted that Kuniyoshi uses the date 1543, but the battle was in fact 1583.
The triptych is full size, untrimmed. The condition is very good… no tears or damages but the impression is only fair with some fading. A strong Kuniyoshi musha-e print from the classical era of his work.
Yamashiro-ya Jimbei
72 x 35 cm.
