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.

Sasai Kyuzo Masayasu (Sakai Kyuzo Narishige) - Fantastic portrait of the sixteenth-century warrior Sakai Kyuzo Narishige in the midst of a fierce battle. The son of Sakai Masahisa, Narishige served Oda Nobunaga, fighting his first battle at the age of thirteen. Here, he grips his spear with both hands, leaping on one foot as he dodges the shots streaking past. He grimaces and bites his lower lip, his face a ghastly shade of blue-gray, a sign of his impending death. A personal standard, helmet, and sword blade litter the ground below, another hint that he will not survive the battle, and clouds of smoke swirl about the samurai. A terrific, dynamic image, beautifully colored and detailed.

Artist - Kuniyoshi (1797 - 1861)

Image Size - 14 1/4" x 9 7/8" + top margin as shown

Condition - This print with good color and detail as shown. Small hole, repaired. Creasing, slight toning. Please see photos for details.