278 - ICHIEISAI YOSHITSUYA: TRIPTYCH OF YORIMITSU TRYING TO CAPTURE HAKAMADARE BY DESTROYING HIS MAGIC

ICHIEISAI YOSHITSUYA: TRIPTYCH OF YORIMITSU TRYING TO CAPTURE HAKAMADARE BY DESTROYING HIS MAGIC By Ichieisai Yoshitsuya (1822-1866), signed Ichieisai Yoshitsuya Japan, dated 1858 Color woodblock print on paper. Oban Triptych. Set inside a frame, behind glass. Signed Ichieisai Yoshitsuya, censor’s seal Horse 4, publisher Tsutaya Kichizo (Koeido). Title Kijutsu o yabutte Yorimitsu Hakamadare o karamen to su (Yorimitsu Tries to Capture Hakamadare by Destroying His Magic). The triptych depicts the confrontation between Minamoto no Yorimitsu and the magician Hakamadare Yasumasa from the Taiheiki (Chronicle of Great Peace), which is a Japanese historical epic written in the late 14th century and covers the period from 1319 to 1367. Lord Minamoto Yorimitsu (also known as Raiko) and three of his four top retainers pursue the notorious thief Hakamadare, who attempts to evade capture by using magic to create a distracting illusion of a fight between a bear and an enormous snake. SIZE of the sheets c. 25 x 37.3 cm (each) Condition: Good condition with old wear, some soiling, expected rubbing, minor creasing, and tiny losses—mostly limited to the edges of the sheets. The colors superbly preserved and overall presenting well. Ichiesai Yoshitsuya (1822-1866) was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist who worked primarily in the mid-19th century. He was a student of Utagawa Kuniyoshi and specialized in creating prints featuring kabuki actors and historical subjects. Yoshitsuya was known for his dynamic and dramatic compositions, as well as his use of bright colors and intricate details. He collaborated with other prominent artists and publishers of his time and created a large body of work that continues to be highly regarded. Yoshitsuya died at the young age of 44. Auction comparison: Compare a closely related print at Christie’s, From Artist to Woodblock: Japanese Prints, London, 11 July 2019, lot 100 (sold for GBP 6,875 or approx. EUR 10,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing).