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#JP5596

Kunisada (AKA Toyokuni III, 1786 - 1864)

The Battle of Yashima in the Genpei War

Medium: Woodblock Print
Date: c. 1838
Size (H x W): 14.5 x 29 (inches)
Seals: Kiwame (censor seal)
Signature: Gototei Kunisada ga
Condition: Very good color, good impression, light surface soiling and wear.
$2,800.00

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Description

Over his lifetime, Kunisada produced numerous series on battles and warriors, especially those inspired by the ancient wars from the Tale of the Heike. His skilled portrayal of water and the natural currents of waves allowed him to create masterpieces of naval battles. In "The Battle of Yashima in the Genpei War", Nasu no Yoichi, one of the legendary archers in the Tale of Heike, was fighting on the side of the Minamoto clan against the Taira clan. The scene illustrates the dramatic moment when a man from the Taira clan placed a fan on top of his ship and dared the Minamoto warriors to shoot it off and Nasu, sitting atop his mount in the waves, shot the fan with just one arrow.

About the artist

View works signed Toyokuni III 

Kunisada, also known as Toyokuni III, was born in the Honjo district of Edo as Kunisada Tsunoda. Kunisada’s family owned a small hereditary ferryboat service. Though his father, an amateur poet, died when Kunisada was a child, the family business provided some financial security. During his childhood, he showed considerable promise in painting and drawing. Due to strong familial ties with literary and theatrical circles, he spent time studying actor portraits.

 

At age 14, he was admitted to study under Toyokuni, head of the Utagawa school. Kunisada’s woodblock print work embodies the characteristics of the Utagawa school, focusing on traditional subjects such as kabuki, bijin (beautiful women), shunga (erotic prints), and historical prints. His first known print dates to 1807, his first illustrated book to 1808. Kunisada’s art career took off from the beginning. Many of his works became overnight successes and he was considered the “star attraction” of the Utagawa school. He signed his works “Kunisada,” sometimes with the studio names of Gototei and Kochoro affixed. In 1844, he adopted the name of his teacher and became Toyokuni III. Kunisada passed away in 1864 in the same neighborhood that he was born. He was 70 years old. Kunisada was a highly popular, and the most active, ukiyo-e print artist of the 19th century. In his time, his reputation surpassed those of his contemporaries Hiroshige and Kuniyoshi.