Original woodblock diptych by Utagawa Kuniyoshi – “Sasaki Takatsuna and Kajiwara Kagesue” – Edo period – Japan

Description

Original woodblock diptych by Utagawa Kuniyoshi – “Sasaki Takatsuna and Kajiwara Kagesue” – Edo period – Japan

Utagawa Kuniyoshi was one of the last great masters of the Japanese ukiyo-e style of woodblock prints and painting. He was a member of the Utagawa school.

The range of Kuniyoshi’s subjects included many genres: landscapes, beautiful women, Kabuki actors, cats, and mythical animals. He is known for depictions of the battles of legendary samurai heroes. His artwork incorporated aspects of Western representation in landscape painting and caricature.

Sasaki Takatsuna (1160 – 1214) was a Japanese samurai commander in the Genpei War, the great conflict between the Minamoto and Taira clans.
When depicted in tales or in art, Takatsuna is often shown racing Kajiwara Kagesue across the River Uji atop Shogun Yoritomo’s white horse, Ikezuki, to be the first to engage in battle at the 1184 battle of Uji.

Kajiwara Kagesue (1162 – 1200), also known as Kajiwara Kagetoki, was a samurai in service to the Minamoto clan during the Genpei War of Japan’s late Heian period.
The Heike monogatari records an anecdote about a friendly competition with Sasaki Takatsuna prior to the second battle of Uji. Mounted on Yoritomo’s black horse, Surusumi, he races Takatsuna across the River Uji.

[Sasaki Takatsuna with white horse]
frame size : 48.9×36.6cm
picture size: 36.3×25cm

[Kajiwara Kagesue with black horse]
frame size : 47.8×35.7cm
picture size: 36.2×25cm

※This is Japanese paper so tears easily.

Please have a look at the photos for a better impression.