1877–1885 Nitta Yoshisada, The Kamakura Loyalist 皇國武将鑑 by Toyoharu Kunichika(Approx. 36 x 24 cm)

Good condition overall. The lines remain vivid and the image is fully recognizable. Some ink color spread is present due to humidity exposure, consistent with age.

This Meiji-era ukiyo-e woodblock print by Toyohara Kunichika is from the series Kōkoku Bushō Kagami (皇國武将鑑, “Mirror of Imperial Warriors”), published circa 1877–1885 by Kobayashi Tetsujirō.

The subject is Nitta Yoshisada, the 14th-century loyalist general remembered for his role in the fall of the Kamakura shogunate and his loyalty to the imperial cause. During the Meiji period, historical figures such as Nitta were frequently celebrated in prints that promoted ideals of loyalty, bravery, and national identity.

Kunichika’s dramatic style emphasizes the commanding presence of the warrior through expressive linework, detailed armor, and theatrical composition, blending historical subject matter with the visual intensity of Meiji-period ukiyo-e.

A historically themed example of Meiji warrior imagery, suitable for collectors of samurai prints, Japanese history, and Kunichika’s work.