Nichiren in the Snow at Tsukahara on Sado Island

Details

Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797-1861)
Nichiren in the Snow at Tsukahara on Sado Island
Nichiren in the Snow at Tsukahara on Sado Island (Sashu Tsukahara setchu), from the series Sketches of the Life of the Great Priest (Koso goichidai ryakuzu), woodblock print with splashed gofun, signed Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi hitsu, published by Iseya Rihei, circa 1831
Horizontal oban (25.6 x 37.3 cm.)

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Lot Essay

A solitary figure bracing himself against the wind, trudges up an exposed, snow-covered mountain slope near Tsukahara on Sado island. Snow falls thickly from a dark sky. This is Nichiren, sent into exile by the regent Hojo Tokimune in 1271. It is believed that this print must have been very popular during Kuniyoshi’s lifetime and it remains one of Kuniyoshi’s best-known designs.

Although there is debate surrounding the many editions of this print and which should be considered the first, it is generally believed that prints without the horizon line (as with the print offered here) are indicative of the first edition.

For another impression in the Honolulu Museum of Art, object number 14842, go to:
https://honolulumuseum.org/art/10353

For another impression in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number JP2856, go to:
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/57049

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