Kuniteru II Utagawa, Sumo Wrestlers seen as Generals in the Three Kingdoms
Artist: Kuniteru II Utagawa (1830-1874)
Title: Sumo Wrestlers seen as Generals in the Three Kingdoms
Publisher: Daikokuya Heikichi
Date: 1869
Size: (L) 25.8 x 36.7, (C) 25.5 x 36.7, (R) 25.3 x 36.7 cm
Original Japanese woodblock print.
The Three Kingdoms was a long period (220-280CE) of turmoil and warfare in China as three major kingdoms, the Wei, Shu, and Wu, vied for rulership of the entire country. This time was later novelised as 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' in the 14th century. Wrestlers were among the most popular celebrities of the day alongside kabuki actors and woodblock prints depicting the subject were collectibles. This triptych by Kuniteru II Utagawa compares three famous sumo wrestlers of the day with the respective generals from the Chinese story.
Kuniteru (Kunitsuna) II Utagawa
A pupil of Kunisada, Kuniteru II depicted the manners and sights of the late Tokugawa and early Meiji ages, particularly the early industrial scenes.
| Print Format | Triptych |
|---|---|
| Artist | Kuniteru (Kunitsuna) II Utagawa |
| Subject | Samurai & Male, Kimono Design, Sumo Wrestlers |
| Dimensions | (L) 25.8 x 36.7, (C) 25.5 x 36.7, (R) 25.3 x 36.7 cm |
| Condition Report | Small wormholes, some wear on the edges, light soiling, thin areas, light creases. |
