Toyonobu Utagawa, Cherry Blossom Viewing at Daigo, Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Artist: Toyonobu Utagawa (1859-1886)
Title: Cherry Blossom Viewing at Daigo
Series: The New Biography of Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Publisher: Matsuki Heikichi
Date: 1883
Original Japanese woodblock print.
Two huge hanami gatherings planted the seeds for the grand style of hanami (cherry blossom viewing) that is still enjoyed to this day in Japan. In 1594, Hideyoshi Toyotomi held a five-day hanami party for 5000 people in Yoshino, Nara Prefecture. Four years later, he held another hanami event for about 1,300 people at Kyoto’s Daigo Temple, where he had 700 cherry trees planted. Hideyoshi was a preeminent daimyo, warrior, general, samurai, and politician of the Sengoku period who is regarded as one of Japan’s great unifiers. The lavish style of flower-viewing is typical to Hideyoshi’s time and characterises the hanami of the Azuchi-Momoyama period (1568-1600).
Toyonobu Utagawa
Toyonobu was one of the last heirs of the tradition of the Utagawa School. He was the grandson of Kunisada and the son of Kunihisa. His prints centre around the theme of warriors. One of his most successful series is ‘New Selection of the Biography of the Taiko’ (Hideyoshi Toyotomi). This series tell us the story of the ascension of Hideyoshi Toyotomi and his famous vassals.
| Print Format | Other |
|---|---|
| Artist | Toyonobu Utagawa |
| Subject | Beauty & Female, Samurai & Male, Male & Female |
| Dimensions | Panel 1: 23.6 x 34.8 cm Panel 2: 24.2 x 34.8 cm Panel 3: 24.7 x 34.8 cm Panel 4: 24.7 x 34.8 cm Panel 5: 24.8 x 34.8 cm Panel 6: 25.1 x 34.8 cm |
| Condition Report | Paper torn and losses on the margins, light soiling, partly colour running, thinning, holes, creases. |
| Folders | In Store, AG |
