Artist:Utagawa Kunisada(also known as Toyokuni III) Title:Inu Monogatari Hakken Ibun – Kamiyome Tamazusa Date:1852 (Kaei 5), Late Edo period Format: Ōban vertical woodblock print
This Edo-period ukiyo-e woodblock print by Utagawa Kunisada illustrates a scene from the popular epicNansō Satomi Hakkendenby Kyokutei Bakin. The subtitleKamiyome Tamazusarefers to the character Princess Tamazusa, whose tragic fate drives the supernatural events at the heart of the Hakkenden narrative.
Kunisada was one of the most prolific and commercially successful designers of the Utagawa school. His Hakkenden prints are known for their dramatic compositions, expressive figures, and richly detailed costumes. In this work, the strong contour lines and bold color application exemplify his mature 1850s style, when literary and historical subjects were especially popular among Edo audiences.
