Comments - Fantastic depiction from the life of the famous archer, Minamoto no Tametomo. During the Hogen Rebellion in 1156, Tametomo sided with the Emperor Sutoku against Emperor Go-Shirakawa. After Sutoku's defeat, Tametomo and other loyalists were exiled to Izu Oshima, the largest of the Izu Islands. While trying to escape with his wife and son, his ship was wrecked by a typhoon. Ready to commit suicide, Tametomo and his men were rescued by winged spirits called tengu, sent by the spirit of Emperor Sutoku. At left, Tametomo sits in a boat, gripping his sword in his hand as he prepares to commit seppuku. Ghostly gray tengu rush to prevent him, two of the creatures taking hold of his arms as others climb aboard the boat. An enormous fish rises out of the water behind them, a samurai clinging to the back of it, cradling Tametomo's child to his chest. At right, Tametomo's wife is swept away in the crashing waves. The fish is incredibly detailed with square scales containing spirals along the back, bulging yellow eyes and rows of sharp teeth. The image is spattered with gofun (a white pigment) in a technique known as gofun chiraishi or gofun splattering to mimic the white spray of foam across the roiling water. An absolutely amazing design from this legendary tale, meticulously carved and printed to produce an astonishing image.
Provenance - This reprint is the work of the Japanese woodblock print artist Tachihara Kurainuki, who dedicated himself to carrying on the traditional methods and materials of ukiyo-e. Self-taught, he studied the original paper, pigments, and printing methods used by Edo era masters, using them to produce his own original works as well as a limited number of reprints of famous ukiyo-e designs, including a small number of Kuniyoshi masterwork triptych designs. These designs include the "Skeleton Specter," "Oniwakamaru and the Giant Carp," and Tametomo's rescue by tengu. As a single artist with a small studio, his production of these prints was very limited. Neither of these designs is seen in the market anymore. These triptychs are considered so precious, that there is a dealer in Kyoto who displays the "Skeleton Specter," but will not sell it. Born in 1951, Tachihara died of a sudden illness on July 31, 2015, at the age of 64. We acquired this extremely rare image directly from the estate of the printer. Tachihara was the subject of a recent retrospective exhibition at the Hagi Uragami Museum in Yamaguchi Prefecture (see example of the exhibition poster below), recognizing his incredible skill and artistry, and honoring his commitment to carrying on this classic Japanese art form.
This reprint - This fantastic triptych is one of the supreme ukiyo-e designs of all time one of Kuniyoshi’s greatest masterworks. It is a fantastic depiction of warrior and supernatural imagery, and a testament to Kuniyoshi’s skill at capturing a historic tale in a vivid woodblock print image.
The Edo era original is virtually non-existent in the market. It simply does not come up for sale at any price. Reprints are also exceedingly rare. We have seen only a couple in the last ten years despite our enormous buying volume. This is a rare opportunity to purchase this masterwork design. The reprint we are offering is in beautiful condition with rich color, crisp line work, and fine bokashi shading. Don't miss this amazing opportunity to acquire this outstanding Kuniyoshi image.
Artist - Kuniyoshi (1797 - 1861)
Image Size - 14 3/8" x 29 3/8" + margins as shown
Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Three separate panels. Please see photos for details. Excellent overall.
