Antique Japanese Original Woodblock Diptych Print by Kunisada -Taira-no Kiyamori- c.1853
Presented is a beautiful Japanese full oban-size woodblock print, diptych, created by the renowned artist of the late Edo period, Utagawa Kunisada (1786 - 1864), also known as Kunisada I and Toyokuni III. He was one of the most prominent artists and printmakers during the late Edo era (1600-1864) and the most productive of all ukiyo-e artists - he had created about 20,000 images, each of them printed in several hundred prints.
This print is a diptych - a two-sheet print, part of a triptych illustrating the story of Taira-no Kiyamori.
Taira no Kiyomori (1118 – 1181) was a Japanese military leader of the late Heian period, who was the de facto ruler of Japan from 1167 until his death. He established the first samurai-dominated administrative government in Japanese history. He has been dubbed one of "Japan's Three Great Villains".
The print depicts the prosperity of Kiyomori's life and love affairs. The Japanese text in the top right tells the story of how Kiyomori fell in love with two courtesans, Gioh and Ginyo, but soon after he flirted with a young dancer, devastating the courtesans, who then entered a nunnery.
Kiyamori is sitting surrounded by his favorites, watching Gioh write a farewell poem. His new favorite, Hotoke, is sitting at his side. Another girl is pouring sake into her sakazuki - a flat saucer-like cup.
The print was made using the Japanese woodblock technique in the 1847-1852s during Kunisada's lifetime. Signed with Kunisada's signature (Kunisada ga) and stamped with the publisher's seal of Izumiya Ichibei, 1840s
The same diptych can be found in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts (MFA). I have a scan of its web page - please take a look. The impression seems to come from the same exact woodblock.
AUTHOR: Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III)
PUBLISHER: Izumiya Ichibei
CREATED: 1847
TITLE: Taira-no Kiyamori with his favorites (descriptive title)
PAPER: washi paper
METHOD OF PRINTING: Woodblock printing
PRINTED: Lifetime printing circa late 1840s - early 1850s
PRINT SIZE: 14.25" X 19.25" two sheets combined
The condition is very good. Great, detailed impression, bright colors, very minimal toning, minor wormholes, and some soiling of the paper. Please see the pictures.
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