Huang Zhong, One of the Five Tiger Generals, from the series Five Colorful Banners

Maker(s)
Artist: Utagawa Kunisada ę­Œå·å›½č²ž (1786-1865)
Historical period(s)
Edo period, ca. 1835-1838
Medium
Ink and color on paper
Dimensions
H x W (overall): 52 x 23.8 cm (20 1/2 x 9 3/8 in)
Geography
Japan
Credit Line
The Anne van Biema Collection
Collection
Arthur M. Sackler Collection
Accession Number
S2004.3.333
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Print
Type

Woodblock print

Keywords
Anne van Biema collection, bow, Edo period (1615 - 1868), horse, Japan, nagaban, ukiyo-e, warrior
Provenance
Provenance research underway.
Label

This print represents another of Kunisada's few warrior print designs. Series of beautiful women and especially of actors and kabuki performances were the major subjects for this prolific artist. Huang Zhong is a hero of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms (Chinese, Sanguo zhi yanyi; Japanese, Sangoku engi), a Chinese historical romance that was popular in the late Edo period. He is one of five generals who distinguished themselves in the period from 184 to 280, which witnessed the collapse of the Han dynasty and the division of China into three rival kingdoms. Huang Zhong served Liu Bei (d. 223), founder of the Shu Han dynasty (221-63). Kunisada's seal, "Hanabusa Ittai," links the artist to followers of the painter Hanabusa Itcho (1652-1724), whose work might have inspired Kunisada's designs for this series and a companion set of Japanese heroes not included in this collection.

Published References
  • Ann Yonemura, et al. Masterful Illusions: Japanese Prints from the Anne van Biema Collection. Seattle and Washington. cat. 79, pp. 212-213.
Collection Area(s)
Japanese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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