Utagawa Yoshitsuya 歌川芳艶 (JAPAN, 1822-1866) A battle Ōban tata-e woodblock print From the series of ‘Fifty-four Battle Stories of Hideyoshi’ Publisher Tsutaya Kichizo Koeido (蔦屋吉蔵紅英堂) Dimensions (the leaf): 35,5 x 25 cm Provenance: A large collection of 100+ Japanese woodblock prints, properties from a French collector. Notes : A student of Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Utagawa Yoshitsuya is also known as Kōko Yoshitsuya (甲胡芳艶) and as Ichieisai Yoshitsuya (一英斎芳艶). He was a Japanese designer of ukiyo-e woodblock prints and has also produced many advertisements and designs for tattoos. 2. The ‘Fifty-four Battle Stories of Hideyoshi’ is Yoshitsuya’s finest series of prints. Hagiography is an art common to all cultures - this combination of historical fact, mythology and fiction, designed to elevate the subject and set him (usually) above his contemporaries. After 1864, the relaxation of rules banning the direct depiction of historical characters allowed this series to be made. Yoshitsuya takes passages from two old hagiographies as the subject matter, depicting true and fanciful stories of victories and battles. The series is lavishly printed, complex and detailed with many colors and blocks, beautifully carved and imagine. Each print is framed with a decorative border. NOTE: CONDITION REPORTS AND MEASUREMENTS It is up to the bidder to satisfy themselves prior to buying as to the condition of a lot. In relation to Condition Reports, whilst we make certain observations on the lot, which are intended to be as helpful as possible, references in the condition report to damage or restoration are for guidance. The absence of such a reference does not imply that an item is free from defects or restoration, nor does a reference to particular defects imply the absence of any others. The condition report is an expression of opinion only and must not be treated as a statement of fact. Measurements and weight are approximate and the potential bidder may re-ask it to be checked when asking for a condition report.