This woodblock print is a warrior portrait, a musha-e, of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shōgun of the Tokugawa shogunate. It was made by Utagawa Yoshitora, an Utagawa-school pupil of Kuniyoshi active in the mid-nineteenth century. Ieyasu (1543–1616) won the decisive Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 and was named shōgun in 1603, founding the dynasty that governed Japan for over two and a half centuries. Here he is shown as a commander, robed and composed, an image of authority drawn long after his lifetime.
The print is a nishiki-e, a multi-colour woodblock made from many hand-cut blocks. Yoshitora carries the bold line and strong patterning of the Utagawa school: crisp contours, richly worked textile, and flat fields of saturated colour. The armour and robes are rendered in detail, while the face is given the steady, deliberate expression of a ruler.
On the wall the portrait holds its ground with quiet weight. Its deep tones and patterned surface read as a single conside . . . Read More >>
This woodblock print is a warrior portrait, a musha-e, of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shōgun of the Tokugawa shogunate. It was made by Utagawa Yoshitora, an Utagawa-school pupil of Kuniyoshi active in the mid-nineteenth century. Ieyasu (1543–1616) won the decisive Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 and was named shōgun in 1603, founding the dynasty that governed Japan for over two and a half centuries. Here he is shown as a commander, robed and composed, an image of authority drawn long after his lifetime.
The print is a nishiki-e, a multi-colour woodblock made from many hand-cut blocks. Yoshitora carries the bold line and strong patterning of the Utagawa school: crisp contours, richly worked textile, and flat fields of saturated colour. The armour and robes are rendered in detail, while the face is given the steady, deliberate expression of a ruler.
On the wall the portrait holds its ground with quiet weight. Its deep tones and patterned surface read as a single considered image rather than a busy one, and the palette sits with dark wood, plaster, and muted textiles. It suits a study, a library, a hallway, or any room that can carry a portrait of presence.
Available as a museum-grade fine art paper print, as a framed picture with shatter-resistant acrylic glazing, or as a satin-coated cotton canvas stretched on a wooden frame and ready to hang.
Frequently asked questions
Who is shown in this print?
Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543‖1616), the first shōgun of the Tokugawa shogunate, shown as a robed and composed commander.
What is a musha-e?
A warrior print, a genre of ukiyo-e showing generals and heroes; this one belongs to the bold tradition of the Utagawa school.
What did Ieyasu do?
He won the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 and became shōgun in 1603, founding the dynasty that governed Japan for over two and a half centuries.
Where does this portrait fit at home?
Its deep tones and patterned surface suit a study, library, or hallway, sitting well with dark wood, plaster, and muted textiles.
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Japan historical period: Edo 江戸 (1603-1868)
Place of origin:
Kanto region
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