UTAGAWA KUNIYOSHI (1798-1861), color woodblock print. Japan, 1845. 'Kintara'.
A mythological motif, where Kintaro acts as a referee at a wrestling between a monkey challenging a rabbit, both dressed in a traditional clothing 'Mawashi', with a demon (oni) abiding in the background. Measurements 26x38,5 cm. Meausrement with passepartout 42x55 cm. Not framed.
Discoloration. Wear to edges. Soft handling creases. Colors possibly slightly faded. Spots. Restorations.
Provenance
From the Collection of Göran Flyxe.
Exhibitions
Exhibited at the Far Eastern Museum, Stockholm. “Sumo, Ritual and Art” - Japanese woodblock prints from the Göran Flyxes Collection; 29/10 2016-29/1 2017, Grafiska Galleriet, Stockholm 1 – 19/12 1973, Krognoshuset, Lund 14-30/1 1974, Norrköping Museum, Norrköping 9/6-28/7 1974, Kalmar Museum, Kalmar nov 1974, Sweden Center Bldg, Tokyo 31/5-1/6 1975, Röhsska Museet, Göteborg 9/12-23/1 1978, Galleri Asthley, Skinnskatteberg 5/6-18/7 1993, Östasiatiska Museet, Stockholm 24/12 1993-14/3 1994.
More information
Japanese Sumo Wrestling is one of the oldest martial arts in Japan. Sumo wrestlers were a favorite subject on Japanese woodblock prints.
Sumo has its roots in the shinto religion. The matches were dedicated to the gods in prayers for a good harvest. The oldest written records date back to the 8th century. But it is probably more than 1500 years old.
Sumo prints from the 18th and 19th century prove the popularity of the sport in the past.