Portrait of Oribe Yahei Kanamaru
Original title: Portrait of Oribe Yahei Kanamaru
kurzbeschreibung
Utagawa Kuniyoshi made this colour woodblock print in 1852, showing Oribe Yahei Kanamaru in traditional Japanese dress. A long weapon dyed blue rests over the man's shoulder, and beside him appear a plant and Japanese characters.
Description
A man in traditional Japanese clothing looks out with a grave, thoughtful expression. Across his shoulder lies a long blue-dyed weapon recalling a sword or staff. To one side stands a pot holding a leafy plant. Symbols and text fill the background, among them a red oval bearing Japanese characters. Dark tones predominate, set beside accents of blue and red; the arrangement draws the eye plainly to the sitter.
Context
Kuniyoshi, a leading Japanese woodblock artist of the Edo period, was known for pictures of heroes and historical figures. In 1852, the year of this sheet, he produced many portraits of samurai and other historical personages. Oribe Yahei Kanamaru is a historical figure whose dates are not clearly documented; he belongs to the history of Japanese warfare.
Impact
The sitter's serious expression and the striking weapon give the portrait a respectful, dignified note. Crisp contours and the contrast between the dark areas and the blue and red accents produce a calm, concentrated presence.
Technique
The sheet was produced as a woodblock print in ink and colour on paper. The design is cut into wooden blocks, inked, and printed onto paper, with several blocks used for the different colours. It measures 37.1 cm in height and 24.4 cm in width.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)