{"product_id":"estampe-japonaise-originale-utagawa-kuniaki2-musha-e-edo-1859","title":"Original Japanese Woodblock Print - Utagawa Kuniaki II - Musha-e Battle Scene - Edo 1859","description":"\u003cp\u003eTraditional Ukiyo-e print, \u003cstrong\u003eoriginal\u003c\/strong\u003e woodblock print. [\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eThis print is not a modern reproduction\u003c\/span\u003e]\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"217\" data-end=\"293\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"217\" data-end=\"237\"\u003ePrint type:\u003c\/strong\u003e Musha-e 武者絵 (battle scenes and Japanese warriors)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"295\" data-end=\"365\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"298\" data-end=\"311\"\u003eArtist:\u003c\/strong\u003e Kuniaki II 国明（二代）(signed Ippōsai Kuniaki ga 一鳳齋國明画)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"367\" data-end=\"448\"\u003e📅 \u003cstrong data-start=\"370\" data-end=\"390\"\u003ePublication date:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1859, late Edo period (year of the goat, 4th month)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"450\" data-end=\"488\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"453\" data-end=\"466\"\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yamaguchi Tobei 山口藤兵衛\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"490\" data-end=\"545\"\u003e📏 \u003cstrong data-start=\"493\" data-end=\"505\"\u003eFormat:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ōban Tate-e 大判縦絵 (25 × 35.5 cm)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"547\" data-end=\"612\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"547\" data-end=\"560\"\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Japan, discovered in Nagasaki prefecture\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"614\" data-end=\"689\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"614\" data-end=\"637\"\u003eCensor seals:\u003c\/strong\u003e Single Aratame seal + zodiac date\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"316\" data-end=\"343\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eAbout the artist:\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"345\" data-end=\"930\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"345\" data-end=\"359\"\u003eKuniaki II\u003c\/strong\u003e (Ippōsai Kuniaki, \u003cstrong data-start=\"380\" data-end=\"393\"\u003e1835–1888\u003c\/strong\u003e) was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist of the \u003cstrong data-start=\"438\" data-end=\"449\"\u003eUtagawa\u003c\/strong\u003e school, active at the turn of the late Edo period and early Meiji era. Younger brother of \u003cstrong data-start=\"541\" data-end=\"554\"\u003eKuniaki I\u003c\/strong\u003e, he worked in a Japan undergoing profound changes, where popular prints accompanied the political and social upheavals of the 19th century.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"694\" data-end=\"697\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eHis work covers several ukiyo-e genres, mainly Yakusha-e and Bijin-ga. It is rare to see musha-e style works in his repertoire.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"696\" data-end=\"707\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSubject:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"709\" data-end=\"1022\"\u003eThis print by Kuniaki II depicts an intense battle scene between several warriors armed with swords and spears, taking place at the foot of a Japanese castle surrounded by pine trees. The composition is energized by moving bodies, tense expressions, and monumental architecture in the background.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1064\" data-end=\"1411\"\u003eThe work is fully in line with the tradition of \u003cstrong data-start=\"1114\" data-end=\"1125\"\u003emusha-e\u003c\/strong\u003e, a popular 19th-century genre depicting heroic, historical, or semi-legendary episodes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1064\" data-end=\"1411\"\u003eSeveral warriors, also depicted by other artists, are identified on the print by cartouches, including Sawai Matagorō (沢井股五郎), Kawauchi Jinnai (川内甚内) and Kami Danroku (哥見丹六).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1430\" data-end=\"1481\"\u003ePrint in good overall condition for a work from 1859. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eColors very well preserved.\u003cbr\u003eOld lining with washi paper but very good transparency to light (see photo). Some small binding holes on the side (see photos)\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"1682\" data-end=\"1701\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e🦝 Our opinion:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1703\" data-end=\"2000\"\u003eA very beautiful print by \u003cstrong data-start=\"1729\" data-end=\"1743\"\u003eKuniaki II\u003c\/strong\u003e, typical of late Edo period musha-e, with many very well represented details. This style is still very popular and Kuniaki executes it excellently here. This is a rare work as very few prints of this style by Kuniaki II are found. Perfect for those who, like us, are passionate about feudal Japan and samurai!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDiscover other unique pieces in our collection of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/kogedo.com\/collections\/estampes-japonaises\" title=\"Authentic Japanese prints by Kunisada and other masters\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"1299\" data-end=\"1322\"\u003eJapanese prints\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"KOGEDO","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52762193756499,"sku":"E101","price":295.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0937\/8562\/0819\/files\/kuniaki-ii-estampe-japonaise-musha-e-scene-combat-samourai-1859.webp?v=1768294823","url":"https:\/\/kogedo.com\/en\/products\/estampe-japonaise-originale-utagawa-kuniaki2-musha-e-edo-1859","provider":"KOGEDO","version":"1.0","type":"link"}