Aragi Settsu-no-kami Murashige (Araki Murashige)

by Kuniyoshi (1797 - 1861)

Current Status

Aragi Settsu-no-kami Murashige (Araki Murashige)  by Kuniyoshi (1797 - 1861)

Original Kuniyoshi (1797 - 1861) Japanese Woodblock Print
Aragi Settsu-no-kami Murashige (Araki Murashige)

Series; Heroic Stories of the Taiheiki (Taiheiki Eiyuden)

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.

Aragi Settsu-no-kami Murashige (Araki Murashige) - Lord of Itami Castle in the province of Settzu, Araki Murashige studied Zen Buddhism, and is shown here wearing a green kimono patterned with Buddhist prayer wheels. He leans forward, a large mochi cake (rice cake) in his mouth. At right a lacquer stand holds additional mochi cakes, and fine decorative lacquer containers rest on the floor nearby. An interesting and unusual portrait with fine detail in the household furnishings.

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 crease at right edge. A few small holes repaired from reverse. Please see photos for details. Good overall.

Aragi Settsu-no-kami Murashige (Araki Murashige)  by Kuniyoshi (1797 - 1861)
Aragi Settsu-no-kami Murashige (Araki Murashige)  by Kuniyoshi (1797 - 1861)

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