Yoshifuji (1828–1889) – Yoshitsune and His Forces...

** A complete impression of this design is held by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, from the collection of William Sturgis Bigelow, who formed most of his Japanese collection while living in Japan in the 1880s. This design was never offered on any international market! ** Artist: Utagawa Yoshifuji (歌川芳藤), pupil of Utagawa Kuniyoshi Title: 義經八島勝軍歸陣之圖 – Yoshitsune Yashima shōgun kijin no zu (Yoshitsune and His Forces Returning in Triumph after the Battle of Yashima) Technique: Original woodblock print (nishiki-e), ink and colour on paper Date: 1853 (Kaei 6), 7th month Publisher: Izutsuya Shōkichi (井筒屋庄吉) Signature: Ippōsai Yoshifuji ga, on each sheet Censor seals: Mera and Watanabe (paired nanushi seals), date seal Ox-7 Format: Vertical ōban triptych, three separate sheets, each approx. 37*25cm Museum reference: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston CONDITION Impression & Colours: Very good colours and strong impression across the sheets. Woodgrain visible! Paper: The paper is clean and firm, with some minor soiling. An excellent example of this rare design. About the Print The Battle of Yashima was fought in the second month of 1185 on the coast of Sanuki Province in Shikoku, where the Taira clan had established a fortified base after their defeat at Ichinotani. Minamoto no Yoshitsune crossed the strait from Settsu in a storm with only a small force and attacked the Taira from the landward side. The Taira, believing a much larger army had arrived, abandoned their position and fled to their ships. The battle produced several of the best-loved episodes of the Heike monogatari, including Nasu no Yoichi's arrow shot at the fan, and the death of Satō Tsuginobu shielding his lord. A month later the Taira were destroyed at Dan-no-ura. This triptych shows the victorious return of Yoshitsune's army. The cartouches identify Yoshitsune as Iyo no kami Minamoto no Yoshitsune, surrounded by his named retainers, among them Musashibō Benkei, Ise Saburō, Suruga Jirō, Kamei Rokurō and Kumai Tarō. Note that "shōgun" in the title is written 勝軍, meaning "victorious army", not the military title 将軍. The print was published in the 7th month of 1853, during a strong wave of Yoshitsune subjects in Edo printmaking; Yoshifuji's teacher Kuniyoshi was issuing his Yoshitsune life series (Hodo Yoshitsune koi no minamoto ichidai kagami) in the same year. Yoshifuji was one of Kuniyoshi's longest-serving pupils and was later best known for his toy prints (omocha-e), which earned him the nickname "Omocha-e Yoshifuji". Large-scale warrior triptychs from his early career are much less common.

Estimation:€500

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