Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III) (1786-1865)
The samurai Egara no Heida killing the monstrous giant snake Uwabami with his sword.
Title: 頼家卿伊豆の国御狩のとき荘栖の平太山中にて大蛇を殺す - Yoriie kyô Izu no kuni mikari no toki Egara no Heida sanchû ni te daija o korosu (Egara no Heida kills the giant snake during a hunting trip of Shôgun Minamoto no Yoriie in the mountains of Izu).
Signature: Kôchô Kunisada ga
Publisher: Moritaya Hanzô, Edo
Censorship: Kiwame and censor Hama
Date: first ed. c. 1835, this ed. c. 1843-46
Size: Vertical Ôban, 37,4 x 25,3 cm (overall)
Very good impression and colours. Full sheet, unbacked. Excellent condition. With additional censor's seal Hama cut into the block.
From a hitherto undocumented slightly later edition with variant colours.
Very rare, powerful warrior print by Kunisada.
Illustrated in: James King and Yuriko Iwakiri, Japanese Warrior Prints 1646-1905, Leiden/Boston 2007, p. 250, no. 136. Another copy is in the MFA Boston, Bigelow Collection, 11.39409.
€ 3.900,-