Utagawa Yoshitaki (1841 - 1899) Protecting Hachijin Castle, 1865. Deluxe chuban tetraptych.
Click here for a full-size image.
Click here for a full-size image of the upper sheet.
What a stunning and exceptionally rare print this is. The lower triptych is reasonably well known but for obvious reasons the unconventional, full set of four prints is extremely hard to find. It emphasises the clever commercial utility of the print format developed by Japanese publishers of the time. The two centre panels could have been purchased as a vertical diptych or the three lower as a triptych. The less well off would have been able to acquire individual, self-contained sheets of their favourite actor and the enthusiast would have been able to purchase the whole, magnificent set as seen here.
The subject of the print is a complex play about the foundation of unified Japan in the period of the warring states. Because of censorship, the names of the protagonists have been changed. Katô Masakiyo was based on the historical figure of Katô Kiyomasa (1562-1611), a samurai who served Toyotomi Hideyoshi. He became legendary for his ferocity in battle, gaining respect and power from his mid-twenties onwards. Although he allied himself with Tokugawa Ieyasu—one of Hideyoshi’s generals and the eventual founder of the hereditary dynasty of Tokugawa shoguns—he ran foul of Ieyasu after opposing a plan to murder Hideyoshi’s young, regent son, Hideyori. Kiyomasa’s death in 1611 was suspicious, possibly the result of poisoning on orders from Ieyasu.
In kabuki dramas - and there are many devoted to the memory of Kiyomasa - his tale takes an ominous turn when circumstances force Kiyomasa to meet with Kitabatake (a theatrical stand-in for the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, whose portrayal in theatre or literature was banned by the shogunate). Kitabatake gives Masakiyo a poisoned cup of sake, which he drinks, knowing it will be fatal. It should be noted that there is no evidence that Kiyomasa was poisoned. The magnificent print shows act 8 of the play Hachijin shugo no Honjo. Jitsukawa Gakujuro II is in the role of Masakiyo (historical Kato Kiyomasa) in the upper sheet. The female role is played by the onnagata actor Sawamura Kunitarô II.
Being of the Osaka School, the quality of the print is really outstanding. There are many areas of burnishing, overprinting and metallics. The colour and impression are fine and condition is very good aside from some repaired wormholes.
57 x 51 cm (at maximum)
