Japan Art and Warlords
Japan Art and Warlords
Lee Jay Walker
Modern Tokyo Times
Utagawa Toyonobu was born in 1859 during the late Edo Period. He died before the end of the Meiji Period (1868-1912). Accordingly, his art belongs to the dynamic Meiji Period.
All three prints by Toyonobu depict warlords and individuals of esteem concerning the pre-Edo Period. This includes the founding father of the Edo Period.
The first print focuses on the revered General Kusunoki Masashige (1294-1336). He died a martyr in typical samurai tradition.
In the print of General Kusunoki Masashige, he is bidding farewell to his son and other important people. He knows that death is likely because his mission is nigh impossible. However, his pious loyalty to Emperor Go-Daigo (1288-1339) meant he obeyed and died a martyr.
The second print focuses on Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598) and Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616). These two individuals (following in the footsteps of Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582), who began the unification) enabled the unification of Japan. Therefore, Tokugawa Ieyasu established the Edo Period based on the foundations laid by Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
The final print shows the samurai Gotō Matabei (1565-1615) at the front of the ship despite the brutal storm. He was only young during the invasion of Shikoku Island in the 1580s.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi ordered the successful invasion and defeated the Chōsokabe clan.
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