Series: The Meiji Period (明治時代, Meiji-jidai)
Restoration: 1868 - 1912
Category: Women Samurai

Accession Number: DFJN2021PRJW009

Title (Original):
Title:
Translated Title: Female Warrior Hangaku Gozen
From the series “Dai Nippon-shi Ryaku Zue” (Picture of Abbreviated Japanese History), Catalogue number 60.

Artist (Original):                
Artist: Adachi Ginkō (active 1874-97)
Medium: Embossed Japanese woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and colour on paper
Signature:  Oju Ginkō
Seal:                       
Publisher (Original):
Publisher:  Ohkura Magobei
Engraver:                
Publication Date:     December 1885

Acquisition Date:     13 September 2021

artelino GmbH
Icking
Germany

Country of Origin: Japan
Size: 18 x 24.5cm

Condition:     Excellent colour and detail. Slight toned.
         
The famed female warrior Hangaku Gozen in a battle field. She lived around the beginning of the 13th century, in the period of the Genji – Heiki war. Later she met and married a Kai-Genji clan warrior, Asari Yoshito.

Many storytellers and printmakers have portrayed her in their works, including Kuniyoshi, who produced a series of warrior women prints. This series also included such historical or literary figures as Tomoe Gozen, Shizuka Gozen and Hōjō Masako.

Collection:

References:

Provenance: Fuji Arts Inc. Suite B, 320 S. Main Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, USA.
Lot No: 925563

Country of origin: Japan

Size: Vertical ōban. 13 ¾  x 19 3/8 (inches)

Price Paid: USD $ 135.00   AUD $ 175.00
Insurance Value October 2021: AUD $ 550.00
                    
Condition: Excellent detail. Two attached panels, backed with paper. A few holes along and slight separation at ends of horizontal centrefold (repaired). A few creases.

Great kabuki scene from the tale of Omatsu, the female bandit of Kasamatsu Pass. She smiles as she looks over her shoulder at Natsume Shirozaburo, who cradles a baby to his chest. He waves a hand at her dismissively as he turns his head away, frowning angrily. The beauty wears a black kimono patterned with pine branches over a kimono that has red insets featuring skulls and bones, and a suit of armour. A burnished black lacquer makeup chest with a mirror top rests on the floor at left, while the alcove at upper right holds a flower arrangement and a hanging scroll of what might be Omatsu herself. From left, the actors are Bando Shuka I and Ichikawa Danjuro VIII. Nice expressive figures in a handsome detailed interior setting, with burnishing on the black lacquer chest and mirror.

Collections:

References: