Toyonobu Woodblock of Toyotomi Hideyoshi

[Justin Grant]

This is my latest purchase, a woodblock of Toyotomi Hideyoshi from the series by Toyonobu titled The New Biography of Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1859-1886). It is a two page panel that I will have framed to look as one page. The subject is titled "In a forest at night", or so I am told! If any of you can read any of the text on the print, I would be grateful.

 

The attached image (click-able link) is a larger version of the imbedded coy

[Baka Gaijin]

Good afternoon Justin,

 

The helmet and spear of the main character look like the depictions of Kato Kiyomasa.

 

Just a thought.

 

Cheers

 

Malcolm

[Bugyotsuji]

He is labelled Kato Kiyomasa; none of the other characters carry the name Hideyoshi. Good pic though...

[Justin Grant]

Well, don't I look the fool! I do appreciate your help, and I now know better. I appreciate the proper identification. Still a nice piece of art, just not who I thought it was. Very nice eitherway.

 

Thanks gentlemen.

 

Justin

[Veli]

Hello!

 

 

I have a woodblock print by the same artist, from the same series! Here's the seller's description:

 

This work is a musha-e diptych print by Toyonobu. He was one of the last heirs of the tradition of the Utagawa School. He was the grandson of Kunisada and the son of Kunihisa. He was one of the most promising young artists of the Utagawa School but died young in 1886. His diptych is included in his famous Series “ Shinsen Taikoki”, New selection of the biography of the Taiko ( Hideyoshi Toyotomi). This series tell us the story of the ascension of Hideyoshi Toyotomi and his famous vassals. The Taikoki is the famous biography of Hideyoshi Toyotomi by Oze Hoan published in 1626. The print was printed in 1884. The print represents the famous duel between Inoue Daikuro Kimura Matazo. In the right sheet, the famous retainer of Hideyoshi Toyotomi, Katoh Kiyomasa ( the character in red) will stop the fight and levy theses famous warriors in Hideyoshi’s army. The duel between the two samurai is very intense and dynamic. We can feel the fight’s intensity. The clothes of the warriors are very impressive with many details. Artist used shomen-zuri technique for the clothes of the two heroes. Shomen-zuri is a polishing and pattern effect used for deluxe print and often used on a black surface or purple to make it shiny. Blue’s color for Shomen-zuri is very rare. It is an impressive and deluxe diptych. Behind them, the landscape is very beautiful and magnificent with the pine tree and the beautiful river.

 

Veli