Tachihara Inuki  - This reprint is the work of the Japanese woodblock print artist Tachihara Inuki, 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 masterwork designs by Kuniyoshi and other artists. His woodblocks are exquisite, with exceptionally fine carving and printing. In 1995, the artist changed his name from Katsuhara Shinya to Tachihari Inuki. Born in 1951, Tachihara died of a sudden illness on July 31, 2015, at the age of 64. We acquired this extremely rare reprint directly from the estate of the printer. Tachihara was the subject of a 2015 retrospective exhibition at the Hagi Uragami Museum in Yamaguchi Prefecture, recognizing his incredible skill and artistry and honoring his commitment to carrying on this classic Japanese art form.

The Earth Spider Generates Monsters at the Mansion of Lord Minamoto Yorimitsu - An incredible Kuniyoshi scene from the story of Minamoto no Yorimitsu (called Raiko) and the earth spider. Raiko fell ill with a fever and dreamed of an earth spider preparing to cast a web over him. He struck at it with his sword and immediately recovered from his fever. Here, Raiko lies on his bed at upper right as the enormous spider appears behind him along with a terrifying crowd of demons and spirits in a cloud of gray mist. His loyal retainers are at his side keeping watch, two of them busy playing a game of go while the others look up grimly at the horrific vision above them. A fantastic illustration of this supernatural tale.

This reprint - This incredible triptych is one of Kuniyoshi's great masterpieces. The Edo era original is simply non-existent in the market. Despite our enormous buying volume in the last ten years, we have only seen this reprint a handful of times. This is an exceedingly rare design and a terrific example of Kuniyoshi's mastery at depicting a famous subject with an original interpretation. The reprint we are offering is in beautiful condition, finely detailed and colored. Don't miss this rare opportunity to acquire a fantastic Kuniyoshi design.

Artist - Kuniyoshi (1797 - 1861)

Image Size - 14 1/2" x 30" + margins as shown

Condition - This reprint with excellent color and detail as shown. Three separate panels. It has never been mounted or framed. Minor toning at edges, a couple light creases at edge of each panel, faint spot in margin. No holes or tears. Please see photos for details. Nice condition overall.