Utagawa Yoshiiku

Hori Kyutaro Hidemasa, a samurai in full armour from the series: Taiheiki eiyuden (Heroes from the chronicles of the Taiheiki)

An original woodcut by the Japanese artist, Utagawa Yoshiiku, also known as Ochiai Yoshiiku, Hori Kyutaro Hidemasa, a samurai in full armour hails from the series: "Taihiki eiyuden (Heroes from the chronicles of the Taiheiki)". It is signed "Chokaro Yoshiiku ga" in the block and is printed on mid nineteenth century Japanese mulberry paper and with full margins as published in 1867 by Hirookaya Kosuke (Hirokaya Kosuke). The completed set of the Taihiki eiyuden consisted of fifty original woodcuts, each depicting a famous samurai warrior. Hori Hidemasa was a Japanese samurai warrior, retainer of the powerful daimyo of Japan, Oda Nobunaga who was the head of the Oda clan during the Sengoku period. He also served as retainer to the daimyo, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, one of Oda Nobunaga's most distinguished generals. Here, Utagawa Yoshiiku depicts General Hori Kyutaro Hidemasa in full samurai armour seated in front of a prayer table, and the torn flag behind him depicts the Maeda Clan crest (kamon).

Original woodcut by the 19th century Japanese artist, Utagawa Yoshiiku (Ochiai Yoshiiku).

Hori Hidemasa known as Hori Kyutaro Hidemasa a samurai in full armour from the series Taiheiki eiyuden Heroes from the chronicles of the Taiheiki Original Woodcut by the Japanese artist Utagawa Yoshiiku known as Ochiai Yoshiiku

Hori Kyutaro Hidemasa, a samurai in full armour from the series: Taiheiki eiyuden (Heroes from the chronicles of the Taiheiki) Hori Kyutaro Hidemasa is also known as Hori Hidemasa.

View other Japanese woodcuts by Utagawa Yoshiiku.

Utagawa Yoshiiku, Utagawa 'Ochiai Yoshiiku' (Japan, 1833- 1904)
#	Image	Title & Artist	Medium	Date	Notes
01-		Actors, Ichimura Kakitsu & Nakamura Shikan as Street Musicians in the play Tamuke no Shikishi Kakitsu no Futsutsuka by Utagawa Yoshiiku	Two Original Japanese Woodcuts (Diptych)	1862	Published by Kagaya Kichibei of Ryogoku
02.-		Hori Kyutaro Hidemasa, a samurai in full armour from the series: Taiheiki eiyuden (Heroes from the chronicles of the Taiheiki) by Utagawa Yoshiiku	Original Japanese Woodcut	1867	Published by Hirookaya Kosuke (Hirokaya Kosuke)
03.-		Kusunoki Shichiro, warrior in feudal samurai armour from the series: Taiheiki eiyuden (Heroes from the chronicles of the Taiheiki) by Utagawa Yoshiiku	Original Japanese Woodcut	1867	Published by Hirookaya Kosuke (Hirokaya Kosuke)
04.-		Saito Izu no kami Toshimitsu, a samurai in battle with a warrior from the series: Taiheiki eiyuden (Heroes from the chronicles of the Taiheiki) by Utagawa Yoshiiku	Original Japanese Woodcut	1867	Published by Hirookaya Kosuke (Hirokaya Kosuke)

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Title:	Hori Kyutaro Hidemasa, a samurai in full armour (Heroes from the chronicles of the Taiheiki)
Artist:	Yoshiiku, Utagawa 'Ochiai Yoshiiku' (Japan, 1833- 1904)
Date:	1867
Medium:	Original Japanese Woodcut
Publisher:	Hirookaya Kosuke (Hirokaya Kosuke)
Signed:	Chokaro Yoshiiku ga
Series:	Taiheiki eiyuden (Heroes from the chronicles of the Taiheiki eiyuden)
Note:	Utagawa Yoshiiku (Ochiai Yoshiiku): A fine 19th century Japanese artist of the Utagawa school, Yoshiiku is also known as 'Utagawa Yoshiiku', 'Ochiai Yoshiiku', 'Ikkeisai Yoshiiku', and 'Chokaro'. Many of Japan's greatest woodcut artists of the latter half of the nineteenth century studied in the workshop of the master artist and designer, Kuniyoshi (1798-1861). The most notable were Yoshitoshi, Yoshiiku, Yoshitora, Yoshikazu and Yoshifuji. The 'Yoshi' prefix, in fact, was somewhat like a title which indicated that these artists belonged to Kuniyoshi's famous school. By the mid 1870's Yoshitoshi had risen to be the most famous artist of his era. Yet, for the decade following the death of Kuniyoshi (in 1861), the heir apparent to carry on his masterful warrior and actor woodcuts was Utagawa Yoshiiku.
	More than any of Kuniyoshi's pupils, Utagawa Yoshiiku continued the striking design elements of his master. These included powerful portrayals of motion and gesture combined with brilliant colour modulations. Yoshiiku's affinity to his master during this decade is reinforced by the fact that he was commissioned to create the important memorial woodcut portrait of Kuniyoshi shortly after his death.
	The Taiheiki eiyuden (Heroes from the chronicles of the Taiheiki eiyuden) was published in 1867 by Hirookaya Kosuke (Hirokaya Kosuke). The completed set consisted of one hundred chuban sized woodcuts, each depicting a famous warrior. The Chronicles of the Taiheiki was a fourteenth century epic covering one of the most troubled and violent epochs of Japanese history. In 1850 Kuniyoshi had designed his own set of woodcuts on this subject entitled, Heroes of the Taiheiki. The designs for this 1867 set were equally divided between Utagawa Yoshiiku (1833-1904) and Ichieisai Yoshitsuya (1822-1867). As both were major students of Kuniyoshi, these woodcuts bear some stylistic similarities to the earlier set.
	Under Kuniyoshi and his pupils, the Warrior print reached its summit during the 1850's and 1860's. In part, impetus for these works of art came from the political and social events of the times. Japan witnessed a series of minor civil wars which led finally to the defeat of the Shogun and the restoration of the monarchy (1868). As well unease over the arrival of Western powers was felt throughout the land. The portrayal of the warrior hero thus assumed great prominence in Japanese woodcut art.
	Hori Hidemasa, also known as Hori Kyutaro Hidemasa was a Japanese samurai warrior, retainer of Oda Nobunaga who was a powerful daimyo of Japan, head of the Oda clan (descendants of the Taira clan), and one of the most formidable warlords of the Sengoku period (a period of social upheaval, disputes, and military conflict in Japanese history marked by many as the 'Age of Civil War'). It has been noted that on of Oda Nobunaga's major goals was national unification as Japan was then ruled by hundreds of autonomous domains (hereditary land holdings), that were under the control of daimyo (powerful feudal lords who ruled Japan). After the death of Lord Oda Nobunaga, Hori Hidemasa served as retainer to the daimyo, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a famous samurai warrior, and one of Oda Nobunaga's most distinguished generals who later became a dominant ruler during the Sengoku period. Soon after, Hori Hidemasa became one of general Toyotomi Hideyoshi's greatest generals. General Hori Hidemasa participated in many campaigns and, was awarded, Obama castle in Wakasa, Sakamoto castle and various other fiefs for his heroic prowess. Here, Utagawa Yoshiiku depicts General Hori Kyutaro Hidemasa in full samurai armour seated in front of a prayer table. The torn flag behind Hori Hidemasa in this Yoshiiku woodcut depicts the Maeda clan crest (kamon). Lord Maeda Toshiie (1554-1627), of Kaga (now Ishikawa prefecture), was one of the leading generals under Oda Nobunaga and son of Toshimasa. The Maeda clan ruled the Kaga Domain from Kanazawa. The Oda clan crest (mon), known as the (Oda moukkou) was distinctive for its five petals around the edge, and is believed to represent the flowering Japanese quince. The Hori clan crest (mon or kamon), is a stylized Ume (Japanese apricot blossom) in circle. And lastly, the Toyotomi clan crest depicts the paulownia seal which is still used today to represent the government of Japan. Note: During this period, it was not unusual, as it was often recognized as a class distinction, for family members to depicted the clan kamon or variations of it on their garments, household items, armours, and weapons.
	An original woodcut by Utagawa Yoshiiku, Hori Kyutaro Hidemasa, a samurai in full armour hails from the 1867 series: Taiheiki eiyuden (Heroes from the chronicles of the Taiheiki). It is characteristic of the great warrior woodcuts of the 1860's. As the Meiji period (1868-1912) began, the art of the Japanese woodcut fell under the influence of Western trends. Thus this woodcut, with its wonderful form and movement, is indicative of the last great work of the famous classic art of Kuniyoshi, his school and the art of Utagawa Yoshiiku (Ochiai Yoshiiku).
Size:	9 7/8 X 7 (Sizes in inches are approximate, height preceding width of plate-mark or image.)
	Matted with 100% Archival Materials
Buy Now	Price: $395.00 US
Condition:	Printed on mid nineteenth century Japanese mulberry (rice) paper and with full margins as published by Hirookaya Kosuke (Hirokaya Kosuke) in 1867 for the Taiheiki eiyuden (Heroes from the chronicles of the Taiheiki eiyuden). Signed "Chokaro Yoshiiku ga" in the block. Containing slight scuffing in the margins, else a richly printed impression and in excellent condition throughout. Hori Hidemasa a samurai in full armour from the series Taiheiki eiyuden Heroes from the chronicles of the Taiheiki represents a superb example of the 19th century art of the warrior woodcut and the art of Utagawa Yoshiiku.
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