Kuniyoshi: Washio Saburo Wrestling a Black Bear (Sold)

Artist: Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798-1861)
Title: Washio Saburo Struggling with a Black Bear (Washi-no-o no Saburo Ichi-no-tani Hiyodori-goe no annaisha to naru zu)

We are in the deep forest, and Washio Saburo is fighting a black bare using only his fists. He has the bear in a headlock and has drawn back his arm to punch the creature. On the rightmost sheet we see Benkei observing the scene, carrying his full assortment of seven weapons [a sword, broad axe (masakari), a rake (kumade), a sickle (nagigama), a wooden mallet (hizuchi), a saw (nokogiri), an iron staff (tetsubō), and a Japanese glaive (naginata).] Behind Benkei stands the infamous Yoshitsune himself, holding a fan with a red sun and wearing a helmet surmounted by a dragon and curving horns. We are on the slope of Hiyodori Gorge, where Yoshitsune was leading the charge on the Taira fortress at Ichi-no-tani.

Condition: Very good impression. The color on the leftmost sheet is very good, while the color on the rightmost sheet is good. Some trimming and some thinning to bottom of rightmost sheet.
Dimensions: ôban triptych (35.5 x 72 cm)
Publisher: Maruya Seijiro
Literature: “Kuniyoshi: The Warrior Prints” by BW Robinson, number T64. See the British Museum online.
Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga 

SKU: KUY541