Utagawa Kunisada I

Princess Takiyasha-hime (The Beautiful Sorceress as the Courtesan Kisaragi)

This Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III) Japanese woodcut, "Princess Takiyasha hime (The Beautiful Sorceress as the Courtesan Kisaragi)" is printed upon mid nineteenth century mulberry paper and with full margins as published by Sumiyoshiya Masagoro, of Yotsuya in 1850 and bearing the double censor seals used during these years. This particular impression contains finely printed lines and brilliant colouration, particularly in the multiple patterns of her kimono. There is little doubt that it is one of the first impressions to be printed from the original wood blocks. Here Kunisada depicts the beautiful sorceress, Takiyasha-hime as the courtesan Kisaragi. Takiyasha-hime was Satsuki hime, the third daughter of the provincial warlord Taira no Masakado, a samurai who lived during the Heian period of Japan. Here, Kunisada likely depicts, the Sorceress, Princess Takiyasha hime as the courtesan Kisaragi. This orignal woodcut represents a valuable example of the original art of Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III).

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Title:	Princess Takiyasha Hime (The beautiful sorceress as the courtesan Kisaragi. Takiyasha-hime, was Satsuki hime, daughter of the provincial warlord, Taira no Masakado)
Artist:	Utagawa Kunisada I 'Toyokuni III' (Japan, 1786 - 1864)
Date:	1850
Medium:	Original Japanese Woodcut
Publisher:	Sumiyoshiya Masagoro, of Yotsuya
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'. Princess Takiyasha-hime (The Beautiful Sorceress) represents a brilliant example from this, Kunisada's last segment of artistic creativity.
	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.
	Special mention should be made concerning this particular impression of Kunisada's woodcut. With its finely printed lines and brilliant colouration, particularly in the patterns of Princess Takiyasha Hime's kimono, there is little doubt that it is one of the first impressions to be printed from the original wood blocks. One should also note the appearance of wood grain in the background. In Japanese woodcuts these wood grain markings disappear after only several impressions have been taken. It is only in a very scarce and early impression such as this original example that one can fully appreciate the superb colouration and composition of a master of the Japanese woodcut.
	Princess Takiyasha Hime (The Beautiful Sorceress): Princess Satsuki hime was the third daughter of the provincial warlord, Taira no Masakado, a samurai who lived during the Heian period of Japan who lost his life when he led a rebellion against the the legitimate court in Kyoto. Legend has it that when Satsuki hime was granted the knowledge of the black magic (onmyodo) by the aramitama, she was instructed to take the name of Takiyasha hime. In Utagawa Kuniyoshi's famous ukiyo-e woodcut (triptych), the artist depicted a mythical scene in which the the beautiful sorceress, Soma no Takiyasha-hime summoned the apparition known as Gashadokuro (a giant skeleton) to frighten the warrior Oya no Taro Mitsukuni (her nemesis), at Taira no Masakado's ancient palace of Soma (Soma no ko dairi), in Shimosa province. The legend of Princess Takiyasha was also popularized in 1836 by the kabuki play entitled, Shinobi yoru koi no kusemono (Masakado). In that play she disguises herself as the beautiful courtesan Kisaragi to deceive Mitsukuni, but when that fails, she uses her magical powers to frighten him. In this woodcut, Kunisada likely depicts Princess Takiyasha hime as the seductive courtesan, Kisaragi. Another version of the story relates that Princess Satsuki hime and her brother, Yoshikado fled to Sauma after the defeat of their father's forces taking refuge in the village near Lake Tazawa in Akita prefecture where she took the name Takiyasha hime and looked after the villagers in the area.
Size:	13 1/2 X 9 5/8 (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 by Sumiyoshiya Masagoro, Of Yotsuya in 1850and bearing the double censor seals used during these years. Containing a very slight vertical crease and a small silk worm hole in the upper margin, else a superb impression bearing all the fine lines, vibrant colours and wood grain of an initial printing. Altogether, Princess Takiyasha-hime (The Beautiful Sorceress as the Courtesan Kisaragi) represents a most valuable example of the original art of Kunisada.
Price:	Sold - The price is no longer available.
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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

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