a.imagelink {color:#0000FF;} a:hover.imagelink {color:#0000FF;} a:visited.imagelink {color:#800080;} a.imagelink img.saleimage { border: 2px solid #0000FF; } a:visited.imagelink img.saleimage { border: 2px solid #800080; } Antique Japanese Woodblock Print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi -Actors Playing Ken Games- c.1848
This beautiful Japanese full oban-size woodblock print was created by the renowned late-Edo artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798-1861).
The print depicts three men making strange gestures. They are playing a hand game called "horai-ken", which belongs to the category of Sansukumi-ken (三すくみ拳, from 三すくみ sansukumi "three-way deadlock" and 拳 ken "hand game"), a category of East Asian ken games (hand games) played by using three hand gestures. Ken games declined in Japan after World War II. One of the few surviving sansukumi-ken games is jan-ken, which was brought to the West in the 20th century as rock-paper-scissors.
Prints depicting the game of ken (拳) are called ken no e (拳の絵). Ken was often played as a drinking game and was incorporated into several kabuki plays as a dance. The prints with small human figures illustrate the dance steps. After a ban on actor prints was imposed in 1842, Kuniyoshi produced numerous humorous designs with thinly disguised actors’ portraits as animals or other objects playing ken.
The persons in the print are actors Nakamura Utaemon IV, Ichikawa Kuzô II, and Seki Sanjûrô III playing a ken game - an excuse to publish actors' portraits when they were banned by the shogunate.
This is a very interesting and unusual subject. Kuniyoshi mastered unconventional, fantastic subject matter. His extraordinary prints were quite popular at the time and remain popular today.
Kuniyoshi was born in Edo (present-day Tokyo) and is known for his dynamic and imaginative prints. Kuniyoshi's works covered a wide range of subjects, including historical scenes, landscapes, kabuki actors, and mythical creatures. He was particularly skilled at depicting warriors and samurai, often creating dramatic, action-packed compositions.
His style featured bold lines, vibrant colors, and intricate details. He uniquely captured the essence of his subjects, infusing them with energy and personality. Kuniyoshi's prints were highly popular during his lifetime and remain admired for their technical skill and storytelling.
Beyond his artistic achievements, Kuniyoshi also played a significant role in developing ukiyo-e as a medium. He was known for experimenting with new techniques and pushing the boundaries of traditional woodblock printing. Overall, Utagawa Kuniyoshi is considered one of the most innovative and influential ukiyo-e artists of his time, leaving a lasting impact on the genre and inspiring future generations of artists.
Many museums in the world have Kuniyoshi works:
British Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY
Museum of Fine Arts in Boston
Tokyo National Museum
Museum of Fine Arts in Houston
Honolulu Museum of Art
and many others.
The print was made using the Japanese woodblock technique during the artist's lifetime.
It shows his signature "Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga" and features Kuniyoshi's famous red "Yoshikiri" seal.
AUTHOR: Utagawa Kuniyoshi
TITLE: Horai-ken
PUBLISHER: Yamamoto-ya Heikichi
CREATED: 1848
PAPER: washi paper
METHOD OF PRINTING: Woodblock printing
PRINTED: Lifetime printing circa 1848
PRINT SIZE: 13.75" X 9.5"
Condition: Fair, nice colors, strong impression. Some grease on the paper; small loss at the lower-left corner. Small holes at the edges from binding. Margins trimmed. See the pictures for details.Showcase your products with Auctiva's image tools and templates
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