Mattia Jona, Master Drawings and Prints, Japanese Prints - Piazzetta Guastalla 5, 20122 Milan, Italy, tel (+39) 02 8053315

ICHIYUSAI KUNIYOSHI (1797 - 1861) SHIMOBE YODOHEI WITH A LARGE BOX ON HIS BACK BY A GARDEN GATE IN THE SNOW
Woodcut, from the series 'Ukiyo-e Comparisons of the Cloudy Chapters of Genji', published by Iseya Ichibei in1845-1846. Robinson 1982, S45/14. The series portrays various scenes from history, legend, and literature that are suggested by a specific chapter of the greatest novel in classical Japanese literature, 'The Tales of Genji' (Genji monogatari). This print refers to Chapter 14.
Signed 'Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga', sealed with the 'kirimon'. Very good impression and colour; lightly soiled, margins partially trimmed, otherwise in good condition. 'Oban', 363 x 248 mm.

The son of a silk-dyer, at the age of fourteen Kuniyoshi joined the Utagawa school, then headed by Toyokuni I. Kuniyoshi achieved his commercial and artistic breakthrough in 1827 with the first designs of the series 'the 108 heroes of the Suikoden'. This series, based on an old Chinese novel from the 14th century, was about rebels and bandits. The artist designed many other successful prints of warriors and heroes and was even nicknamed 'Warrior print' Kuniyoshi, but in fact he contributed to every branch of 'Ukiyo-e': theatrical prints, legendary and historical subjects, women, landscapes, comics, 'surimono', fan-prints and book-illustrations.