Kuniyoshi: Yawata: Archer and Rainbow (Sold)

Artist: Utagawa Kuniyoshi
Title: Yawata: Archer and Rainbow
Series: Sixty-nine Stations of the Kisokaidô Road
Date: 5/1852

Yawata Saburô and his companion Ômi Kotôda are assassins sent to kill a powerful lord on a hunting party. We see Yawata removing his hat as he grasps his bow from a perch on a rock. We see the banners of a hunting party and Kotôda pointing them out, below. Somewhat anachronistic is the rainbow in the sky amidst the light rain, as well as the lily flowers growing from under the rock. Perhaps the rainbow is a sign of impermanence, as the assassin ends up killing the son of the intended target. The story is from “The Tale of the Soga Brothers”, a classic story.

Condition: Excellent impression, color and condition. Small imperfection in paper near hat. Tiny imperfection in sky block is also in MFA print.
Dimensions: ôban
Publisher: Hayashiya Shôgorô
Literature: See Sarah Thompson’s “The Sixty-nine Stations of the Kisokaidô”, figure 25, page 66.
Seal: kiri
Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga

SKU: KUY330