Page 182 - 2021 March 16th Japanese and Korean Art, Christie's New York City

179 UTAGAWA KUNIYOSHI

(1797-1861)

Miyamoto no Musashi attacking
the giant whale

Woodblock print, each sheet signed Ichiyusai
Kuniyoshi ga, sealed Yoshikiri, published by
Kawaguchiya Shozo, 1847-50
Vertical oban triptych: 14√ x 10 in. (37.8 x 25.4
cm.) each approx. (3)

$20,000-30,000

In this extremely rare print, Miyamoto Musashi
(1583-1647), famed as a sword master and inventor
of the two-sword style of fencing (nito-ryu), is
shown plunging his sword into a giant whale
off the coast of Higo (present-day Kumamoto
prefecture). A strikingly bold composition which
creates a strong sense of drama and tension at the
moment that Miyamato Musashi subjugates the
whale. Kuniyoshi achieves this brilliantly by almost
completely filling the space allowed by the triptych
format with the body of the giant whale, allowing
just enough space around for the turbulent sea and
a rather ominous sky at the upper right. The black
tonal gradation on the whale's back is produced
with a technique of abrading the printing block
called ita-bokashi.