1844-48 (Koka era)／Color woodblock print on paper
35.5 x 25.0 cm
SUMMARY
Takeda Samanosuke Nobushige was a younger brother of Takeda Shingen. He was wise and valiant, and became an adjutant to the general – in other words, Shingen’s right hand man. Nobushige foresaw his death at the Battle of Kawanakajima, and entrusted one of his vassals with a keepsake for his son. As he predicted, the battle claimed his life. In the book Koyo Gunkan (“Military Model”) he is described as “a true assistant general, with everything in harmony”, and Takeda Nobushige’s Family Mottos, which were handed down to his heir Nobutoyo, were popularly read in the Edo era as the principles of a samurai. He is a popular figure as a true samurai of the literary and military arts.
ARTIST
Utagawa Kuniyoshi
1797-1861
Attracted the attention of Utagawa Toyokuni I with his drawing of Zhong Kui (Shoki) at age twelve, and soon became a disciple of Toyokuni’s. He fell on hard times in his 20s, but at 31 published One hundred and eight heroes of the popular Suikoden. This gained him popularity, and he came to be called “Warrior Print Kuniyoshi”. He did everything well, from actors and beautiful women to landscapes, but in particular, his triptych panoramas of warriors or historical scenes as well as his witty caricatures snatched the hearts of the general public. He gathered many excellent pupils with his natural leadership, including Ochiai Yoshiiku, Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, and Kawanabe Kyosai.
List of artworks by the same artist
INFORMATION
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