Description
This is an original ukiyo-e from the late Edo period (1603-1868) depicting a genre scene of the period, referring to a literary work from the series of 36 poems, with two samurai fighting.
Format: vertical oban.
Size: 45 x 34 cm
Signed by Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1865), also known as Utagawa Toyokuni I, was a Japanese artist of the Utagawa School, a disciple of Utagawa Toyokuni. His birth name was Sumida Shogoro IX, although he was also known as Sumida Shozo. He adopted Kunisada as his stage name after the death of his teacher, Toyokuni III.
He specialised in the genre of yakusha-e actors, although he also produced bijin-ga (portraits of ladies and courtesans), with a crude realism and an energetic style. His work was abundant, and he was one of the best representatives of actor paintings, for which he received the nickname Yakusha-e no Kunisada.
