info on woodblock print needed

[beakner]

Hello, I'm wondering if anyone can help translating a print I've had for many years. I've been curious about the artist & era it was done in. Much appreciation, Beakner

[Bugyotsuji]

Looks like Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi. 1797-1861

[Baka Gaijin]

Good morning Beakner

 

It's from the series:

 

Stories of Courageous Generals of the Provinces of Echigo and Kai

(Kôetsu yûshô den, 甲越勇將傳)

Publisher: Sumiyoshi-ya Masagorô

c. 1848-1849

 

It depicts General Usami Suruga no Kami Sadayuki (宇佐美駿河守定行), deflecting a flying sword with the shaft of his spear

 

Yours appears to be trimmed, it should measure 14 by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters), it's known as an ôban sized print.

 

Cheers

 

Malcolm

[beakner]

Thank you very much!! Very interesting!!!

[loui]

Very cool! Check out my Kuniyoshi in the "Edo" thread - same series but of a General blowing himself up.

[Baka Gaijin]

Good evening Louis & Beakner,

 

Both prints are from the series Kôetsu yûshô den, 甲越勇將傳 (Stories of Courageous Generals of the Provinces of Echigo and Kai)

 

Essentially the prints eulogise the Generals of both Takeda Shingen and his enemy Uesugi Kenshin.

 

Takeda Shingen of Kai Province conquered Shinano Province in 1547, expelling Murakami Yoshiharu and Ogasawara Nagatoki, who turned to Uesugi Kenshin of Echigo Province for help. A series of battles between the forces of Takeda Shingen and the forces of Uesugi Kenshin were fought on the plain of Kawanakajima in the northern Shinano Province near the modern-day city of Nagano. The five major battles took place in 1553, 1555, 1557, 1561 and 1564.

 

Louis's print is of Morozumi Bungo-no-kami Masakiyo, One of Three Heroic Deaths in Battle (San uchijini no uchi, Morozumi Bungo-no-kami Masakiyo, 三討死之内, 諸角豊後守昌清) He was on the Takeda side.

 

Beakner's print is of Usami Suruga no Kami Sadayuki (宇佐美駿河守定行) He was on the Uesugi side.

 

In a similar vein, the last stand of the Kusuoki was a subject Kuniyoshi returned many times, usually in tryptych form:

 

Nanke yûshi Shijô-nawate nite uchijini (Last Stand of the Kusunoki Heroes at Shijo-Nawate, 楠家勇士四條畷にて討死) 1851/52

 

Shijô-nawate nite Nanke no eiyû taiteki wo etc. (四條畷にて楠家の英勇大敵を...) 1857

 

http://www.japangalleryprints.com/image ... asp?id=615

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_l ... nawate.jpg

 

Cheers

 

Malcolm