Shuntei Katsukawa, Samurai Battle Scene Woodblock Print Triptych, c. 1810s

Story

In 1185, a band of assassins launched a surprise night raid on the legendary warrior Yoshitsune. This print captures the explosive moment his loyal giant monk, Benkei, single-handedly held off the attackers with a massive iron club.

Maker / Origin

Katsukawa Shuntei (1770–1820) was a prominent artist of the Katsukawa school, celebrated for his dynamic warrior prints (musha-e) and theatrical kabuki scenes. A pupil of Katsukawa Shun'ei, Shuntei was known for infusing his battle scenes with a raw, muscular energy and complex diagonal compositions that influenced later masters like Kuniyoshi.

Condition & Value

The prints show typical signs of age, including light toning, minor creasing, and wear along the edges where the sheets meet. There is some minor fading to the organic pigments, but the overall registration remains sharp and the colors are remarkably well-preserved for paper over 200 years old.