Japanese Ukiyo-e Art Print Poster Woodblock Wall Decor Akashi Ridayu Hidemoto Utagawa Kuniyoshi Samurai Sword Tattoo Calligraphy Bushido Axe

UKIYO-E
JAPANESE WOODBLOCK
ART PRINT

Akashi Ridayu Hidemoto, from the series "Heroes of the Great Peace" (Taiheiki Eiyuden 太平記英勇傳), by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, circa 1848.

Utagawa Kuniyoshi, the unsurpassed master of the warrior image genre, produced many exceptional images of samurai. This work is another example of his dramatic and almost cinematic style – the movement, the pose, and the vivid facial expression of the warrior lord make him larger than life and larger than the woodblock print itself!

The series about the civil wars of the 16th century (ironically titled "Heroes of the Great Peace") actually disguises the main acting figures as characters from the royalist wars of the 14th century (politics...), with the names of the depicted warriors altered, making it extra difficult to identify the valiant samurai as actual historical figures.

The central figure, Akashi Ridayū Hidemoto, is clad in traditional samurai armor, with a straw rain cloak thrown over his shoulders. He is armed with two swords and a hoe. At his feet, a straw hat and blooming iris lie on the ground. Incidentally, the Japanese iris (hana-shobu) symbolises the warrior spirit and valour. In the series, he is leading the ambush group with his men dressed as farmers – which probably explains the peasant's straw cloak, the hoe, and the straw hat on the ground. The iris possibly hints at his revealed true identity. He stands with an air of confident resolve, ready for the fight, his face fierce, and the hoe brandished in a threatening manner!

★ Reproduced from an archive image, respectfully and lovingly restored and enhanced digitally, to remove the non-artistic blemishes and colour fading.

★ A3 print, 297mm x 420mm. (Interior images are shown for styling and illustrative purposes only, not to be used as a precise scale guide. There will be no watermarks on the actual print.)

★ Printed in England on a 350gsm Eucalyptus paper, made from eucalyptus pulp from sustainable sources. It is brilliant white and smooth and Eco printed with high pigment environmentally-friendly toners.

★ Supplied unframed, carefully rolled and packed with tissue paper in a strong cardboard tube for safe transit.

FRAMED / READY-TO-HANG LISTING ALSO AVAILABLE here: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1547353399

(Interior images are shown for styling and illustrative purposes only, not to be used as a precise scale guide. There will be no watermarks on the actual print.)

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