JAPANESE ART > UKIYO-E WOODBLOCK PRINTS > THE POWERFUL ARCHER TAMETOMO

Lot 00590
N.1 ukiyo-e woodblock print

Toyohara Kunichika

THE POWERFUL ARCHER TAMETOMO

Year: 1898
Condition: good
Size: 23,5 x 35 cm

SOLD

Minamoto no Tametomo (源為朝), also known as Chinzei Hachiro Tametomo (鎮西八郎為朝), was a samurai of the late Heian period (平安時代). He is known in the epic chronicles as a powerful archer and it is said that he once sunk an entire ship with a single arrow, by puncturing its hull below the waterline. It is also added in many legends that his left arm was about 10 cm longer than his right, enabling a longer draw of the arrow, and more powerful shots.

The fine woodblock print presented here, produced in February 1898 by the publisher Fukuda Kumajiro (福田熊次郎), owner of Gusokuya (具足屋), and by the carver Nisei Horiei (二世彫栄), is taken from the series "One Hundred Roles of Ichikawa Danjuro" (市川団十郎演芸百番) by the artist Toyohara Kunichika (豊原国周).

The print on Japanese washi paper (和紙), despite some signs of aging, is in good condition, thanks also to an effective relining carried out on the back.

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