Utagawa Kuniyoshi, "Tanbe Jiju Taira-no Harutaka"

Tanbe Jiju Taira-no Harutaka (Oda Harutaka) was the descendant of Oda Nobunaga and heir to his father's throne. Following Nobunaga's death, Harutaka's claim to the throne was challenged by Toyotomi Hideyoshi and he was defeated in battle in 1583. Here, Harutaka is shown sitting a stool covered with a fur rug. A banner adorned with a Chinese umbrella looms behind him in this grand pose of a fallen heir. 

Kuniyoshi's Taiheiki eiyu den chronicles the period of civil war in 16th century Japan in the years leading up to the unification of Japan under the Tokugawa Shogunate. Composed of fifty woodblock prints, Kuniyoshi's Taiheiki contains some of the artist's most iconic designs. The historical names (in parentheses) of the figures depicted have been altered to avoid censorship during the Edo-period.

Series: Heroes of the Grand Pacification (Taiheiki)
Date: 1848
Size: Oban
Publisher: Yamamoto-ya Heikichi
Condition: Small stain top edge, binding holes, otherwise excellent color and condition
Frame Shown: 16" x 24" x 1/2", Classic Wood, Ebony Walnut

Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798-1861) is one of Japan's greatest masters of ukiyo-e printmaking from the Edo period. Many of Kuniyoshi's works are regarded today as archetypes of woodblock prints produced during the Edo period and highly prized by collectors.