豊国 Toyokuni
㐂翁豊国筆
『豊国揮毫奇術競 / 将軍太郎良門』
Artist : Toyokuni Ⅲ
Series : Toyokunikigokijutsukurabe
Published : Edo 1862 (文久2年)
Size : 15.3 × 21.1 cm
The sheet signed 𝐾𝑖𝑜𝑢 𝑇𝑜𝑦𝑜𝑘𝑢𝑛𝑖ℎ𝑖𝑡𝑠𝑢
A chuban chirimen-e (crépon) print of a Kabuki actor ; the print depicts 𝑌𝑜𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑘𝑎𝑑𝑜 embarking on a journey to revenge his father’s death. His father was 𝑇𝑎𝑖𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑜 𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑎𝑘𝑎𝑑𝑜 who was an important person in the origin of the Samurai in the Heian period(794-1185).
It’s believed that his family crest was a horse which is emblazoned on 𝑌𝑜𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑘𝑎𝑑𝑜’𝑠 flag.
Crépon was a printing style which used textured paper & more vivid colours than normal woodblock prints.
The style of Crépon was loved by Vincent Van Gogh, examples of this technique can be found in his Japanese woodblock print collection & inspired some of his artworks.