Tanmeijirō Genshōgo Fighting Under Water
Original title: Tanmeijirō Genshōgo Fighting Under Water
kurzbeschreibung
Two warriors grapple beneath the water's surface in this subject drawn from the Chinese novel The Water Margin, part of Utagawa Kuniyoshi's series on the 108 heroes of the Suikoden. The 1856 colour woodblock print, produced in the second month, presents the scene in ink and colour on paper in the vertical ōban format.
Description
Below the waterline, two armed men are locked in combat: the upper figure grips a sword while a fish pursues him, and the lower one lies at the bottom, fighting back. Their traditional clothing points to a historical or mythical episode. Blues and greys dominate the palette, with red and white providing accents. Strong diagonals govern the layout, bringing out the movement and force of the struggle.
Context
In the second month of 1856 Kuniyoshi devoted this print to his series on the 108 heroes of the Suikoden, which is based on a Chinese novel. During the Edo period the series enjoyed great popularity because it combined historical material with fantastic elements. The artist was known for portrayals of heroes and supernatural scenes, which he often set in dramatic poses and unusual surroundings—underwater here.
Impact
The unfamiliar underwater perspective and the dynamic diagonals generate considerable tension. Muted blue and grey tones create depth and give the sheet an almost surreal mood; red accents draw the eye to the combatants. Clear contours and precise linework ensure the graphic clarity characteristic of Kuniyoshi's style.
Technique
This colour woodblock print (nishiki-e) was made using several woodblocks side by side, one for each colour. Ink and pigments were thus transferred to the paper, while black lines define the contours. The format is a vertical ōban (about 37 × 25 cm), customary for single prints of the period.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)