Kokunimasa (aka Kunimasa V) (1874 - 1944 )
Kokunimasa Utagawa (aka Kunimasa V) was a prolific artist who worked across the Meiji, Taisho and Showa periods. Born in 1874 to the artist Hosai Baido (or Kunimasa IV), Kokunimasa worked in the Utagawa style, carrying the long line of Utagawa printmakers well into the 20th century. As the role of the woodblock print changed in Japan, Kokunimasa adapted to popular demand. He produced senso-e, or “war prints,” during both the Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895) and the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), as well as genre scenes, actor prints and more, often depicted in the triptych format. Though the 20th century brought new print movements, Kokunimasa remained true to aesthetic language of ukiyo-e. He also used the go, or "artist names," Baido and Ryukei.
Ukiyo-e | Japanese Woodblock Prints | Ronin Gallery
Explore the largest collection of 17th-19th century original Japanese woodblock prints in the United States at Ronin Gallery. Ukiyo-e, or “pictures of the floating world,” captured the exciting urban popular culture of the Edo period (1603-1868), promoting its beauty, fashions and heroes. While the Buddhist term ukiyo originally emphasized the transitory nature of human life, during the 17th century the term gradually shifted its reference to the ephemeral world of pleasure and indulgence. From 17th century Buddhist woodcuts through 19th century Japanese ukiyo-e print masters, enter a vibrant world of enchanting landscapes and sublime nature studies by Hokusai and Hiroshige, dramatic kabuki actors by Sharaku and Toyokuni, fierce samurai by Kuniyoshi, and elegant beauties by Utamaro. With the ravages of time, war and fire, today few of these precious original Japanese woodblock prints survive outside of museums and important private collections.
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Kokunimasa (aka Kunimasa V)
Great Victory of the Imperial Navy at the Great Pitched Battle off Takushan
JP-96268
