MEIJI PERIOD UKIYO-E • TWO-SHEET COLOUR WOODBLOCK • TOYONOBU • SAMURAI HISTORY • KOREAN EXPEDITION
An impressive original Meiji-period colour woodblock diptych by Utagawa Toyonobu, depicting Hideyoshi's council before the proposed invasion of Korea, from the celebrated historical series Newly Selected Records of Taikō Hideyoshi.
Details
Description
A scarce and visually dramatic Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock diptych by Utagawa Toyonobu, one of the talented late-Meiji artists of the Utagawa School. Issued in 1883, the print forms part of the historical series Newly Selected Records of Taikō Hideyoshi, illustrating important episodes from the life and military career of the celebrated sixteenth-century warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
This composition depicts the famous Great Council concerning the proposed subjugation of Korea, showing Hideyoshi and his senior commanders gathered in discussion before the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–1598). Richly detailed costumes, armour and interior furnishings combine with bold colour printing to create a striking historical composition characteristic of the flourishing Meiji revival of samurai subjects.
The print was published by Kobayashi Tetsujirō and engraved by Hori Kō Muneoka, both respected contributors to late nineteenth-century Japanese colour printing. The quality of the carving and registration remains evident throughout the two sheets, with crisp line work and strong original colouring.
Toyonobu enjoyed only a brief career, dying at the age of twenty-seven, making his original works considerably scarcer than those of many better-known ukiyo-e masters. His historical prints are particularly admired for their energetic compositions and careful attention to period costume, architecture and military detail.
The Taikō Hideyoshi series was produced during a period of renewed national interest in Japan's military history and great historical figures. Prints from the series combine traditional ukiyo-e craftsmanship with the patriotic historical themes favoured during the early Meiji period, making them highly desirable examples of nineteenth-century Japanese printmaking.
Original two-sheet woodblock prints from this series are increasingly sought after by collectors of Japanese art, samurai history, ukiyo-e, Meiji-period prints and East Asian military history. This well-preserved example offers an excellent opportunity to acquire an attractive and historically important work by a scarce Utagawa artist.
Condition
Very Good. A clean and well-preserved original diptych with attractive colour and strong overall appearance. Please examine the gallery images carefully for condition, or request a more detailed report if required.