Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III) (1786-1865)
The pledge of loyalty in the peach-orchard (184 a.d.) – the three Chinese heroes Guan Yu (right), Liu Bei (middle) und Zhang Fei (left)
Title: 桃園祭天地結義 (Momozono tenchi-o matsuri to gyomutsubu?)
Signature: Kôchôrô Kunisada ga
Publisher: Tsuruya Kiemon (Senkakudô)
Censor: Kiwame
Date: 1830s
Size: Oban triptych, 36,8 x 77,2 cm
Excellent impression, very good colours, printed with metal pigments (a little bit oxidised). Single sheets not mounted, just at three points slightly put together. Upper and lower margins just a tiny bit trimmed. Slightly worn, few weak spots and just a little bit creased, otherwise very nice condition. An impressive and very rare triptych!
Illustrated in: Richard Illing, The Art of Japanese Prints, pp 10, pl. 5. Compare also Kunisada's shikishiban-surimono to the same topic, in: Jan van Doesburg, What about Kunisada?, pp 72, pl. 25.
sold