Okuda Sademon Yukitaka
- Medium:
- Woodblock print
- Source:
- Robyn Buntin of Honolulu
- Image courtesy of
- Robyn Buntin of Honolulu
Description
This impression of Kyosai's Okuda Sademon Yukitaka depicts the Akō rōnin in warrior portrait format. As one of forty-seven retainers who gave up conventional Edo-period social stability to honor their obligation of vendetta, Okuda Sademon represented the kind of subject — morally resolute, physically courageous, historically specific — that Kyosai handled with the authority his Utagawa lineage in warrior subjects provided. The composition centers on the figure in full armor, likely in the moment of the night raid on Kira's Edo compound. Nishiki-e color printing renders the distinctions between metal, lacquer, and textile surfaces in the armor through carefully registered color blocks. The cartouche identifying the subject — standard in rōnin portrait series — allows the print to function as one sheet within a collectible set. Ink depth in this impression suggests a well-maintained block and quality washi support.
More Prints by Kawanabe Kyosai
from the series One Hundred Pictures by Kyôsai (Kyôsai hyakuzu)
Woodblock print
Old Picture of the Rashômon Gate (Rashômon no ko zu), from the series Scenes of Famous Places along the Tôkaidô Road (Tôkaidô meisho fûkei), also known as the Processional Tôkaidô (Gyôretsu Tôkaidô), here called Tôkaidô meisho tsuzuki
Woodblock print
Tsukishimadera Temple in Hyôgo (Hyôgo Tsukishimadera), from the series Scenes of Famous Places along the Tôkaidô Road (Tôkaidô meisho fûkei), also known as the Processional Tôkaidô (Gyôretsu Tôkaidô), here called Tôkaidô meisho no uchi
Woodblock print
from the series One Hundred Pictures by Kyôsai (Kyôsai hyakuzu)
Woodblock print
Frequently Asked Questions
Okuda Sademon Yukitaka was created by Kawanabe Kyosai (河鍋暁斎).