Yamamoto Kansuke, Wounded by Arrows - Utagawa Kuniyoshi
Archival giclée
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Description
A dramatic woodblock triptych by Utagawa Kuniyoshi depicting the final stand of the samurai Yamamoto Kansuke at the Battle of Kawanakajima.
This triptych by Utagawa Kuniyoshi depicts the final moments of the legendary samurai Yamamoto Kansuke during the Battle of Kawanakajima. Kuniyoshi, a master of the musha-e (warrior print) genre, captures the chaos of the conflict with dramatic flair. The composition is divided across three sheets, showing the intensity of the engagement as Kansuke, despite being struck by numerous arrows, remains a figure of defiance amidst the carnage.
The print demonstrates Kuniyoshi's ability to manage complex narrative scenes. The left and right panels are dense with activity, featuring soldiers in traditional armour, banners, and weaponry, while the central panel provides a sense of space, allowing the viewer to focus on the central figure. The atmospheric treatment of the clouds and the muted colour palette contribute to the sombre tone of the scene. Kuniyoshi employs sharp, precise lines to define the armour and the expressions of the warriors, ensuring that the individual details remain clear even within the crowded battlefield.
Yamamoto Kansuke was a strategist for the Takeda clan, and his death is a frequent subject in Japanese historical art. Kuniyoshi portrays him not merely as a casualty, but as a figure of martial resolve. The print reflects the Edo period fascination with historical epics and the lives of famous samurai. By focusing on the physical toll of the battle, the artist conveys the gravity of the historical event. This work is a representative example of the technical skill involved in mid-nineteenth-century woodblock printing, where multiple blocks were used to achieve the layered colours and textures seen in the sky and the figures. The print remains a study in the depiction of movement and tension within the constraints of the ukiyo-e tradition.
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Because every print is made to order, we don't offer change-of-mind returns, refunds or exchanges. If your order arrives faulty, damaged or incorrect, we'll replace it free of charge — just contact us within 48 hours of delivery. See our refunds page for full details.
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We ship worldwide, printing at the production hub nearest to your delivery address. Delivery times and costs vary by destination — you'll see the options available to you at checkout.
Manufacturing
Each print is produced to order using 12-colour giclée printing on FSC-certified archival paper. Designed in Britain and printed at your nearest production hub to reduce waste and speed up delivery.
Care and materials
Specific Features
Every Solis piece is made to order with archival, gallery-quality materials built to last.
- Museum-grade giclée printing for rich, fade-resistant colour
- Archival matte fine-art paper, FSC-certified
- Multiple sizes and framing options available
- Frames in black, natural wood, dark wood or white
- Framed prints arrive ready to hang
Care & Cleaning
To keep your artwork looking its best:
- Dust gently with a soft, dry cloth
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight
- Never use liquid cleaners on the print or canvas surface
- Keep in a dry, room-temperature space
- Handle prints with clean, dry hands
Materials & Sizing
Museum-grade giclée on FSC-certified archival matte paper, with framed and canvas options.
- Paper sizes: A4, A3, A2, A1, A0 and B2 (50×70 cm)
- Canvas: XS (20×30 cm) to Large (60×90 cm)
- Frames: black, natural wood, dark wood or white
Yamamoto Kansuke, Wounded by Arrows - Utagawa Kuniyoshi
Artist Biography
Utagawa Kuniyoshi
For the first thirteen years he struggled. The breakthrough came in 1827 with a commission to illustrate the 108 Heroes of the Suikoden, a Chinese adventure novel. He drew tattooed warriors in dynamic poses that broke out of the frame, the tattoos rendered with a detail that started a fashion in Edo. The series was enormously popular and established him as the leading designer of warrior prints.
He loved cats. His studio was always full of them, and he often worked with a kitten tucked inside his kimono. When a cat died, he sent it to a nearby temple, and he kept a Buddhist altar for his deceased cats at home. Cats appear constantly in his prints: as substitute actors in kabuki scenes, as letter-forms in playful alphabets, as parodies of famous paintings. Government censorship in the 1840s prohibited the depiction of actors and courtesans by name, so Kuniyoshi gave them cat faces, which was technically legal and funnier.
His range was unusual for an ukiyo-e artist. Warriors, landscapes, beautiful women, ghosts, satirical cartoons, cats. He was equally comfortable with the heroic and the absurd, sometimes on the same sheet. His triptych of the giant skeleton spectre, from the tale of Takiyasha the Witch, is one of the most reproduced images in Japanese art.
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