Heroic Stories of the Taiheiki - Few other Japanese woodblock printmakers ever matched Kuniyoshi's detail and artistry in the genre of warrior prints. Published between 1847 - 1850, Kuniyoshi's fantastic series, "Heroic Stories of the Taiheiki (Grand Pacification)," presents fifty full-length portraits of famous warriors involved in the closing period of the civil wars in 16th century Japan, just before unification of the country. These dramatic images show these leaders engaged in battle or posing heroically in all their military glory. Kuniyoshi captures the unique aspects of each warrior, with texts above detailing their heroic careers. To evade the prohibitions enacted in 1804 against depicting historic figures who lived after 1573, each warrior has a pseudonym that would have been easily recognized by the viewers of the time. The actual name of the individual is provided in parentheses. These prints are a great opportunity to collect a part of Japanese history, dynamically documented by the leading master of warrior prints.

Shimura Masazo Katsutoyo (Kimura Matazo) - Great portrait of Kimura Matazo, a skilled sumo wrestler and a retainer of Kato Kiyomasa who served his lord during the Korean campaign. He is shown seated wearing a fringed loincloth, pulling a green and striped kimono over one shoulder. He stares ahead intently, his eyes wide and lips tightly closed, his muscles bulging. His swords rest on a print kimono on the floor behind him, and a stack of papers hangs over the handle of a water bucket at right. An intriguing image of a warrior during a moment of ease, yet still ready for action.

Artist - Kuniyoshi (1797 - 1861)

Image Size - 9 7/8" x 14 1/8"

Condition - With excellent color and detail. Some rubbing and soiling in subject. A few small holes repaired from reverse. Please see photos for details. Good overall.