Utagawa Kunimaro

Utagawa Kunimaro, also known by several pseudonyms such as Fusahiro, Ichienzai, Matsuchōrō, Kirakusai, and Maromaru, was active primarily between the end of the Edo period and the first decade of the Meiji period.
Born as Kikutaro Kikugoshi, he began his artistic career as a disciple of Utagawa Sadafusa, then continued under the mentorship of Utagawa Kunisada and Utagawa Toyokuni IV.
Kunimaro is particularly remembered for his print series "Famous Places of the Tōtō Canal".
His works range from book illustrations to sugoroku prints, reflecting the influence of his teachers and documenting Japan`s cultural transition towards modernity. He was also known for his many pseudonyms and changed his artistic name from Fusahiro to Kunimaro during his career, a common practice among ukiyo-e artists to mark significant phases in their artistic journey. His poetic pseudonym was Kikuō.
Towards the end of his life, it was speculated that he was the same person as Matsuchōrō Kansai, another artist active during the Kaei period.

Artwork Description
Jirōtayū Abe no Sadatō
Edo
This print depicts Abe no Sadatō, a warrior of the Abe clan lived in the 11th century.
His clan was set in which by the time was called Mutsu province extending across the modern prefectures of Fukushima, Miyagi, Iwate, Aomori and Akita. His father, Yoritoki, was put in charge of overseeing the Ainu population, defending the northern boundaries of the territory, and for this he had been bestowed of one of the highest the military rank by the time: the Chinjufu Shōgun.
During the Former nine years war (including some truces the conflict spanned from 1051 to 1063), he fought alongside with his father against the Minamoto clan.
Yoritoki was killed in 1057, and Sadatō succeeded him as the clan leader, winning one battle after another until 1062, when the Minamoto`s troops were joined by reinforcement and put Sadatō under a siege. After having run out of supplies, saw is troops attacked and his fortress set aflame he surrendered.
USD$ 123.00