UTAGAWA KUNIYOSHI: A COLOR WOODBLOCK PRINT OF BENKEI FIGHTING A GIANT CARP By Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797-1861), signed Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga Japan, early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) The young warrior-monk wrestling a giant carp that had eaten its mother, engulfed in a crashing wave, a stern expression on his face as he subdues the huge fish. OBAN 36 x 25 cm Condition: Good condition, color, and impression. Minor soiling. Small tears and losses around the edges. Provenance: Austrian private collection. Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797-1861) was one of the last great masters of the Japanese ukiyo-e style of woodblock prints and painting. The range of Kuniyoshi`s subjects included many genres: landscapes, beautiful women, Kabuki actors, cats, and mythical animals. He is known for depictions of the battles of legendary samurai heroes. Kuniyoshi`s work is held in the permanent collections of many museums worldwide, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Princeton University Art Museum, the Nasher Museum of Art, the Walters Art Museum, the Portland Art Museum, the Seattle Art Museum, the Brooklyn Museum, and the Van Gogh Museum. Auction comparison: Compare a closely related woodblock print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi at Bonhams, 12 May 2022, London, lot 382 ( sold for 6,375 GBP ).