Utagawa Kunisada I

Actors Arashi Hinasuke I as Oboshi Yuranosuke and Ichikawa Monnosuke III as Oboshi Rikiya Seated in Front of the Prayer Table

This original Japanese woodcut by Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III), "Actors Arashi Hinasuke I as Oboshi Yuranosuke and Ichikawa Monnosuke III as Oboshi Rikiya Seated in Front of the Prayer Table" depicts two characters from the most famous play of traditional Japanese theatre -- Kanadehon Chushingura (The Treasury of Loyal Retainers) -- is actually based upon a historical event. The Chushingura Story derives from the incident known as the Ako vendetta which took place on January 30, 1703. Because of its popularity, Chushingura became a major subject for woodcut artists. Hiroshige, Kuniyoshi and Kunisada produced numerous prints upon this theme. With its brilliant coloration and spacial design, "Actors Arashi Hinasuke I as Oboshi Yuranosuke and Ichikawa Monnosuke III as Oboshi Rikiya Seated in Front of the Prayer Table" is a superb Chushingura woodcut. It is printed upon mid nineteenth century mulberry and with full margins as published by Miyakozawa between 1847 & 1852. It is signed with Kunisada's 'Ichiyusai Toyokuni ga' within the image. The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston includes and Impression of this original woodcut in its collection.

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Title:	Actors Arashi Hinasuke I as Oboshi Yuranosuke and Ichikawa Monnosuke III as Oboshi Rikiya Seated in Front of the Prayer Table
Artist:	Utagawa Kunisada I 'Toyokuni III' (Japan, 1786 - 1864)
Date:	1847-1852
Medium:	Original Japanese Woodcut
Publisher:	Miyakozawa
Signature:	Signed Ichiyosai Toyokuni ga
Series:	The Life of Oboshi the Loyal (Seichu Oboshi ichidai banashi)
Note:	Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III): Perhaps the best known printmaking artist of his day, Kunisada apprenticed under Toyokuni. Kunisada's earliest woodcuts date from 1809 and he quickly established himself as a master of figure and character studies. Because of his chronological changes of signatures, Kunisada's woodcuts are not difficult to date: his first works were signed, 'Ichiyusai Kunisada', and bear the definite influence of his master. About 1813, he began inscribing his woodcuts, 'Gototei Kunisada', and from 1827, he adopted the 'go' or 'ga' suffix. Finally, in 1844, he took his deceased master’s name -- a not uncommon practice in Japanese art -- and signed his works, 'Toyokuni'. This original woodcut entitled, "Actors Arashi Hinasuke I as Oboshi Yuranosuke and Ichikawa Monnosuke III as Oboshi Rikiya Seated in Front of the Prayer Table" is signed 'Ichiyusai Toyokuni ga' and is among the first works of art in which Kunisada used this title.
	When the Western world first discovered the artistic value of the Japanese woodcut (c. 1865) it was the designs of Kunisada which primarily attracted the greatest attention. His superb use of line, perspective and color influenced an entire legion of European artists. Toulouse-Lautrec, Whistler, Van Gogh, Vuillard, Bonnard and many others all owed a considerable deal to the splendid creations of this Japanese master of the woodcut.
	"Actors Arashi Hinasuke I as Oboshi Yuranosuke and Ichikawa Monnosuke III as Oboshi Rikiya Seated in Front of the Prayer Table" by Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III), depicts two characters from the most famous play of traditional Japanese theatre -- Kanadehon Chushingura (The Treasury of Loyal Retainers), which is actually based upon a historical event. The Chushingura Story derives from the incident known as the Ako vendetta which took place on January 30, 1703. On a snowy night forty-six ronin (Oboshi Yuranosuke included) burst into the fortified mansion of Kira Yoshinaka (later known as Moronao), a powerful noble and retainer of the imperial household. Moronao was guilty of the death of the ronins' former master and as such was quickly killed and beheaded. The following morning the vengeful samurai surrendered to the priests of a Buddhist temple and awaited their executions. Today the temple where these men are buried serves as a place of pilgrimage. Oboshi Yuranosuke was a major figure in the vendetta. Along with his son, Rikiya, he retired to Yamashina. Aided by information concerning the fortification of Moronao's mansion he plotted his assassination. Rikiya also plays a key role in the Chushingura story, with his romance of Konami.
	Because of its popularity, Chushingura became a major subject for woodcut artists. Hiroshige, Kuniyoshi and Kunisada produced numerous prints upon this theme. With its brilliant coloration and spacial design, "Actors Arashi Hinasuke I as Oboshi Yuranosuke and Ichikawa Monnosuke III as Oboshi Rikiya Seated in Front of the Prayer Table" is a superb Chushingura woodcut. Here, in his apparent retirement, Oboshi displays the single mindedness and grim determination of revenge. The Waseda University Theatre Museum, Number 006-4898, and The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Accession Number, 11.29669, both include and Impression of this original woodcut in its collection.
Size:	Oban (Sizes in inches are approximate, height preceding width of plate-mark or image.)
	Framed and Matted with 100% Archival Materials
	View larger Framed Image

Buy Now	Price: $875.00 US
Condition:	This original woodcut is printed upon mid nineteenth century mulberry (rice paper) and with full margins as published by Miyakozawa between 1847 & 1852 for The Life of Oboshi the Loyal (Seichu Oboshi ichidai banashi). Signed with Kunisada's 'Ichiyusai Toyokuni ga'. A beautifully printed impression with vibrant colors and in very good condition throughout. "Actors Arashi Hinasuke I as Oboshi Yuranosuke and Ichikawa Monnosuke III as Oboshi Rikiya Seated in Front of the Prayer Table" is a superb, orginal example of the famous woodcut art of Kunisada.
Subject:	Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III, Ichiyusai Toyokuni ga, Oboshi Yuranosuke, Rikiya, Kunisada, Toyokuni III, Actors Arashi Hinasuke I as Oboshi Yuranosuke and Ichikawa Monnosuke III as Oboshi Rikiya Seated in Front of the Prayer Table, The Life of Oboshi the Loyal (Seichu Oboshi ichidai banashi), Original Japanese Woodcut, Chushingura, Yamashina, ronin, samurai, Ako vendetta.
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Utagawa Kunisada I 'Toyokuni III' (Japan, 1786 - 1864)
#	Image	Title & Artist	Medium	Date	Notes	-
01.-		A Beautiful Woman from the Tale of Genji (Nise murasaki inaka genji) by Kunisada	Original Woodcut	1831	Publisher: Senkakudo
02.-		A Beautiful Woman in an Interior by Kunisada	Original Woodcut	c. 1849 - 1853	'Toyokuni' Signature, Publisher: Kichizo	Sold
03.-		Hana (Flowers) Kacho fugetsu no uchi (Series: Flowers, Birds, Wind & Moon) by Kunisada	Original Woodcut	1847 - 1851	Signed: Kochoro Toyokuni ga, Publisher: Yamamotoya Heikichi	Sold
04.-		A Nobleman in a Boat by Kunisada	Original Woodcut	c. 1820 - 1827	'Gototei Kunisada' Signature	Sold
05.-		A Pilgrimage to Mount Fuji by Kunisada	Original Woodcut	c. 1849 - 1853	'Toyokuni' Signature, Publisher: Tsutaya Kichizo	Sold
06.-		A Seated Nobleman from the Tale of Genji (Nise Murasaki Inaka Genji) by Kunisada	Original Woodcut	1839	Publisher: Senkakudo	Sold
07.-		Actors Arashi Hinasuke I as Oboshi Yuranosuke and Ichikawa Monnosuke III as Oboshi Rikiya Seated in Front of the Prayer Table	Original Woodcut	1847-1852	Signed: Ichiyosai Toyokuni ga, Publisher: Miyakozawa
08.-		Actors Ichimura Uzaemon XIII as Kincho's Son (Segare) Kinko, Seki Sanjuro III as Iyam (Playing Hagoita) by Kunisada	Original Woodcut	1856	Signed: Toyokuni ga, Publisher: Omiya Kyujiro
09.-		An Actor in The Role of a Warrior, Kabuki Play (Ichikawa Ebizo V as Shirafuji Genta) by Kunisada	Original Woodcut	1840	Signed: Gototei Kunisada ga, Publisher: Yamamotoya Heikich	Sold
10.-		An Autumn Stroll in a Garden Landscape by Kunisada	Original Woodcut	1854	'Toyokuni' Signature	Sold
11.-		An Old Man and a Young Woman from the Tale of Genji (Nise Murasaki Inaka Genji) by Kunisada	Two Original Woodcuts	Between 1829 & 1842	Publisher: Senkakudo
12.-		Biwa-Hoshi On The Tokaido Road Near Maisaka: Sohitsu gojusan tsugi (The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido by two Brushes) by Kunisada and Hiroshige	Original Woodcut	c. 1854 - 1857	Signed Hiroshige ga & Kunisada ga, Publisher: Maruya Kishuro	Sold
13.-		Narumi: Sohitsu gojusan tsugi (The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido by two Brushes) by Kunisada and Hiroshige	Original Woodcut	c. 1854 - 1857	Hiroshige hitsu & Toyokuni ga (with Censor Seals), Publisher: Maruya Kishuro	Sold
14.-		Genji noryo no kei (Nobleman With a Fan, Banks of the Sumida River, Edo) by Kunisada	Original Woodcut	1861	Toyokuni' Signature, Publisher: Hiranoya
15.-		Portrait of a Nobleman with a Fan and a Flute by Kunisada	Original Woodcut	c. 1820 - 1827	'Gototei Kunisada' Signature	Sold
16.-		Princess Takiyasha-hime (The Beautiful Sorceress) by Kunisada	Original Woodcut	1850	'Toyokuni' Signature, Publisher: Sumiyoshiya Masagoro, of Yotsuya	Sold
17.-		Sangi Hitoshi (Ogura Hyakunin Isshu - A Pictoral Comentary on One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets) by Kunisada	Original Woodcut	1845	Signed: Ichiyusai Toyokuni ga, Publisher: Sanoya Kihei
18.-		The Legend of The Nine Tailed Fox (Yamato Province: Fox (Kitsune) Tadanobu) by Kunisada I and Kunisada II	Original Woodcut	1845	Signed: Ichiyosai Toyokuni ga (within the main image); Toyokuni monjin Kunimasa ga (on the insert) Publisher: Aamitaya Kiyoyemon	Sold
19.-		Three Figures in a Winter Landscape (Travelers in the Snow) by Kunisada	Original Woodcut	c.1820 - 1827	'Gototei Kunisada' Signature	Sold
20.-		Yotsuya: Actor Bando Hikosaburo V as the Ghost of Oiwa (Flowers of Edo and Views of Famous) by Kunisada and Sadahide	Original Woodcut	1863	Signed: Toyokuni ga, (bottom right); & Tou ga (top); Sadahide ga (Bottom left), Publisher: Katoya Iwazo

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