Utagawa Kunisada I and Utagawa Kunisada II - The Legend of The Nine Tailed Fox Yamato Province Fox Kitsune Tadanobu from the Dai Nihon Rokujuyo Shu No Uchi The Stories of Sixty Plus Provinces of Great Japan

The Legend of The Nine Tailed Fox (Yamato Province: Fox (Kitsune) Tadanobu)

An original woodcut by Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III) & Utagawa Kunisada II, "The Legend of The Nine Tailed Fox (Yamato Province: Fox (Kitsune) Tadanobu)", was published by Aamitaya Kiyoyemon in 1845. Kunisada and his pupils were at work upon a series of fifteen woodcuts entitled, "The Stories of the Sixty Plus Provinces of Great Japan". Each of these woodcuts portrayed a leading Kabuki actor in a role related to plays based upon tales of Japanese folklore. Kunisada designed the portrayal of the principal actor while the background insets were designed by his pupils. In the case of the twelfth woodcut, "Yamato Province: Fox (Kitsune) Tadanobu)", the main portrait is by Kunisada I and the inset of the woman was designed by Kunisada II. The fox, plays a key role in Japanese folklore and is most often associated with cunning and conniving impulses. As well, it often assumes human form. Thus the beautiful woman portrayed in the inset is likely a fox spirit. With its brilliant use of both line and form this original woodcut is typical of Kunisada's distinctive art..

Original Woodcut by the Japanese artist, Utagawa Kunisada I Toyokuni III and Utagawa Kunisada II.

The Legend of The Nine Tailed Fox Yamato Province Fox Kitsune Tadanobu Original Woodcut by the Japanese artists Utagawa Kunisada I Toyokuni III and Utagawa Kunisada II published by Aamitaya Kiyoyemon for the Dai Nihon Rokujuyo Shu No Uchi The Stories of Sixty Plus Provinces of Great Japan

The Legend of The Nine Tailed Fox (Yamato Province: Fox (Kitsune) Tadanobu) from the Dai Nihon Rokujuyo-Shu No Uchi (The Stories of Sixty Plus Provinces of Great Japan)

View other original Japanese woodcuts by Utagawa Kunisada I.

Utagawa Kunisada I 'Toyokuni III' (Japan, 1786 - 1864)
#	Image	Title & Artist	Medium	Date	Notes	-
01.-		A Beautiful Woman from the Tale of Genji (Nise murasaki inaka genji) by Kunisada	Original Woodcut	1831	Publisher: Senkakudo
02.-		A Beautiful Woman in an Interior by Kunisada	Original Woodcut	c. 1849 - 1853	'Toyokuni' Signature, Publisher: Kichizo	Sold
03.-		Hana (Flowers) Kacho fugetsu no uchi (Series: Flowers, Birds, Wind & Moon) by Kunisada	Original Woodcut	1847 - 1851	Signed: Kochoro Toyokuni ga, Publisher: Yamamotoya Heikichi	Sold
04.-		A Nobleman in a Boat by Kunisada	Original Woodcut	c. 1820 - 1827	'Gototei Kunisada' Signature	Sold
05.-		A Pilgrimage to Mount Fuji by Kunisada	Original Woodcut	c. 1849 - 1853	'Toyokuni' Signature, Publisher: Tsutaya Kichizo	Sold
06.-		A Seated Nobleman from the Tale of Genji (Nise Murasaki Inaka Genji) by Kunisada	Original Woodcut	1839	Publisher: Senkakudo	Sold
07.-		Actors Arashi Hinasuke I as Oboshi Yuranosuke and Ichikawa Monnosuke III as Oboshi Rikiya Seated in Front of the Prayer Table	Original Woodcut	1847-1852	Signed: Ichiyosai Toyokuni ga, Publisher: Miyakozawa
08.-		Actors Ichimura Uzaemon XIII as Kincho's Son (Segare) Kinko, Seki Sanjuro III as Iyam (Playing Hagoita) by Kunisada	Original Woodcut	1856	Signed: Toyokuni ga, Publisher: Omiya Kyujiro
09.-		An Actor in The Role of a Warrior, Kabuki Play (Ichikawa Ebizo V as Shirafuji Genta) by Kunisada	Original Woodcut	1840	Signed: Gototei Kunisada ga, Publisher: Yamamotoya Heikich	Sold
10.-		An Autumn Stroll in a Garden Landscape by Kunisada	Original Woodcut	1854	'Toyokuni' Signature	Sold
11.-		An Old Man and a Young Woman from the Tale of Genji (Nise Murasaki Inaka Genji) by Kunisada	Two Original Woodcuts	Between 1829 & 1842	Publisher: Senkakudo
12.-		Biwa-Hoshi On The Tokaido Road Near Maisaka: Sohitsu gojusan tsugi (The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido by two Brushes) by Kunisada and Hiroshige	Original Woodcut	c. 1854 - 1857	Signed Hiroshige ga & Kunisada ga, Publisher: Maruya Kishuro	Sold
13.-		Narumi: Sohitsu gojusan tsugi (The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido by two Brushes) by Kunisada and Hiroshige	Original Woodcut	c. 1854 - 1857	Hiroshige hitsu & Toyokuni ga (with Censor Seals), Publisher: Maruya Kishuro	Sold
14.-		Genji noryo no kei (Nobleman With a Fan, Banks of the Sumida River, Edo) by Kunisada	Original Woodcut	1861	Toyokuni' Signature, Publisher: Hiranoya
15.-		Portrait of a Nobleman with a Fan and a Flute by Kunisada	Original Woodcut	c. 1820 - 1827	'Gototei Kunisada' Signature	Sold
16.-		Princess Takiyasha-hime (The Beautiful Sorceress) by Kunisada	Original Woodcut	1850	'Toyokuni' Signature, Publisher: Sumiyoshiya Masagoro, of Yotsuya	Sold
17.-		Sangi Hitoshi (Ogura Hyakunin Isshu - A Pictoral Comentary on One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets) by Kunisada	Original Woodcut	1845	Signed: Ichiyusai Toyokuni ga, Publisher: Sanoya Kihei
18.-		The Legend of The Nine Tailed Fox (Yamato Province: Fox (Kitsune) Tadanobu) by Kunisada I and Kunisada II	Original Woodcut	1845	Signed: Ichiyosai Toyokuni ga (within the main image); Toyokuni monjin Kunimasa ga (on the insert) Publisher: Aamitaya Kiyoyemon	Sold
19.-		Three Figures in a Winter Landscape (Travelers in the Snow) by Kunisada	Original Woodcut	c.1820 - 1827	'Gototei Kunisada' Signature	Sold
20.-		Yotsuya: Actor Bando Hikosaburo V as the Ghost of Oiwa (Flowers of Edo and Views of Famous) by Kunisada and Sadahide	Original Woodcut	1863	Signed: Toyokuni ga, (bottom right); & Tou ga (top); Sadahide ga (Bottom left), Publisher: Katoya Iwazo

View other Original Japanese Woodcuts by Kunisada II.

Utagawa Kunisada II (Japan, 1823 - 1880)
#	Image	Title & Artist	Medium	Date	Publisher	-
01-		A Scene From Hokusetsu bidan Jidai Kagami (Uplifting Tale of Northern Snows, Mirror of the Ages) by Utagawa Kunisada II	Original Woodcut	1864	Wakasaya Yoichi	Sold
02.-		Kashiwagi, from The False Murasaki's Rustic Gengi (A Spring Scene on The Porch) by Utagawa Kunisada II	Original Woodcut	1849 - 1853	Amatsu	Sold
03.-		The Legend of The Nine Tailed Fox (Yamato Province: Fox (Kitsune) Tadanobu) by Kunisada I and Kunisada II	Original Woodcut	1845	Aamitaya Kiyoyemon	Sold

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Title:	The Legend of The Nine Tailed Fox (Yamato Province: Fox (Kitsune) Tadanobu)
Artist:	Utagawa Kunisada I 'Toyokuni III' (Japan, 1786 - 1864)
Artist:	Kunisada II 'Kunimasa III, Toyokuni IV' (Japan, 1823 - 1880)
Signed:	Ichiyosai Toyokuni ga (within the main image); Toyokuni monjin Kunimasa ga (on the insert)
Date:	1845
Medium:	Original Japanese Woodcut
Publisher:	Aamitaya Kiyoyemon
Series:	Dai Nihon Rokujuyo-Shu No Uchi (The Stories of Sixty Plus Provinces of Great Japan)
Note:	Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III): Perhaps the best known printmaking artist of his day, Kunisada apprenticed under Toyokuni. Kunisada's earliest woodcuts date from 1809 and he quickly established himself as a master of figure and character studies. Because of his chronological changes of signatures, Kunisada's woodcuts are not difficult to date: his first works were signed, 'Ichiyusai Kunisada', and bear the definite influence of his master. About 1813, he began inscribing his woodcuts, 'Gototei Kunisada', and from 1827, he adopted the 'go' or 'ga' suffix. Finally, in 1844, he took his deceased master's name -- a not uncommon practice in Japanese art -- and signed his works, 'Toyokuni'. This original woodcut is signed 'Ichiyusai Toyokuni ga' and is among the first works of art in which Kunisada used this title. In this woodcut entitled, "Yamato Province: Fox (Kitsune) Tadanobu)", the main portrait is by Kunisada I.
	When the Western world first discovered the artistic value of the Japanese woodcut (c. 1865) it was the designs of Kunisada which primarily attracted the greatest attention. His superb use of line, perspective and colour influenced an entire legion of European artists. Toulouse-Lautrec, Whistler, Van Gogh, Vuillard, Bonnard and many others all owed a considerable deal to the splendid creations of this Japanese master of the woodcut.
	Utagawa Kunisada II (Kunimasa III, Toyokuni IV): The most dominant and influential movement of nineteenth century Japanese woodcut art was the Utagawa School. As early as 1800, Toyokuni had come to represent the father of this school. His style of art was handed down to his greatest students, Kuniyoshi and Kunisada I, Utagawa 'Toyokuni III' (Japan, 1786 - 1864). They in turn trained such fine artists as Kunisada II and Kunichika. Throughout the century, Utagawa School artists were particularly adept at actor portrayals, genre depictions and scenes from mythology and folklore.
	Like the great schools of Japanese acting, the best Utagawa artists often inherited their master's name. Kunisada II's first woodcuts are signed with his original name, 'Kunimasa'. In 1846, however, he married his master's daughter and secured the rights to sign his woodcuts, 'Kunisada II'. And, from 1870, he further inherited the name of his master's master, thus signing his art, 'Toyokuni III'. In the case of this woodcut entitled, "Yamato Province: Fox (Kitsune) Tadanobu)", the inset of the woman was designed by Kunisada II.
	"Yamato Province: Fox (Kitsune) Tadanobu" hails from a series entitled, Dai Nihon Rokujuyo-Shu No Uchi (The Stories of Sixty Plus Provinces of Great Japan) designed by Kunisada and Kuniyoshi. The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, includes and impression of this original woodcut in its permanent collection, Accession Number 11.15635.
	Japanese folklore: Like the Takuni, the Kitsune is also considered a yukai in Japanese folklore and mythology. This creature goes by various names, 'ninko' (man fox), 'Izumo, Yako' (field fox), and 'Kyushu, Osaki' (split tail), and of course, 'Kitsune' which is the name given to the fox in Japan. The fox is also called a 'Henge' (another name given to mystical creatures that posses the power to transform for good or evil), similar to the Tanuki (raccoon dogs), the Bakeneko (cats), the Tsuchigumo (spiders), and various other creatures with that power. In many cases, the kitsune is considered man's guardian, however, this creature is also a trickster and enjoys deception. Like the fox, the kitsune is a free spirits by nature, and as it grows older, it is able to transform into human shapes and assumes the characteristics (the features and personality) of a person (man or woman), or may choose to posses someone's body in order to deceive or influence others, most often, preferring the body of a beautiful woman to bewitch its victims, as one can observe in this Kunisada I and Kunisada II woodcut entitled, The Legend of The Nine Tailed Fox (Yamato Province: Fox (Kitsune) Tadanobu). The Kitsune possesses a diversity of supernatural powers, but only comes in three colors, silver, white, and gold. Legend has it that the kitsune becomes more powerful, more intelligent and much wiser with age. By the time this spirit reaches maturity, it can grow up to nine tails, however, only one of those tails is the main source of power. It is said that the secret to destroying a kitsune is to cut off its tail, but first, you must discover which tail is the source of power. Now, according to Japanese folklore, Kitsune are said to have a life span of about ten thousand years and those that reach maturity are considered to be at the pinnacle of their powers and revered as the wisest and most powerful creatures of their kind. Most importantly, at this stage, they have gained the power of infinitive vision and are often referred to as nine-tailed foxes, a reference mentioned in Yamato Province: Fox (Kitsune) Tadanobu. Although some local traditions categorize Kitsune into the various supernatural powers they represent (Heaven, Void, Spirit, Wind, Fire, Earth, Rivers, Oceans, Mountains, Forests, Thunder, Time and Sound), they are generally split into two classifications, the first being the Yako or Nogitsune (a mischievous and sometimes malevolent fox), and the second is the Zenko (a benevolent and virtuous fox associated with the Shinto deity, Inari, one of the 'Seven Good Luck Gods'). It is also believed the fox is the Messenger for the Inari / Oinari, the deity of rice (a symbol for earth's fertility and the nourishment of life). Traditionally, a pair of foxes were supposed to guard the Inari / Oinari in order to protect the livelihood of the nation's farmers and people. The Japanese also believed the fox could help them ward off evil Kimon (ominous or evil direction). Due to their ability to control and influence humans, most folk tales recommend that kitsune be feared, respected, mistrusted and should only be approached with caution.
Size:	14 X 10 (Sizes in inches are approximate, height preceding width of plate-mark or image.)
	Framed and Matted with 100% Archival Materials
	View larger Framed Image

Condition:	Printed upon mid nineteenth century mulberry (rice paper) and with full margins as published in 1845. Several very faint horizontal folds exist in the upper margins, else a superb early impression and in excellent condition throughout. This original woodcut of The Legend of The Nine Tailed Fox (Yamato Province: Fox (Kitsune) Tadanobu) represents a superb example of the art of Utagawa Kunisada I and of Utagawa Kunisada II.
Price:	Sold - The price is no longer available.
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Utagawa Kunisada I & Utagawa Kunisada II

The Legend of The Nine Tailed Fox (Yamato Province: Fox (Kitsune) Tadanobu)