Preliminary identification
Photo reference
5 uploaded photos
Overview
This is a spectacular, complete three-panel woodblock print (triptych) by the legendary ukiyo-e master Utagawa Kuniyoshi. It depicts the infamous warlord Taira no Kiyomori staring down a terrifying, hallucinatory army of skeletons and a massive skull that have materialized from the snow in his garden at Fukuhara.
Story
In the 12th century, the ruthless warlord Taira no Kiyomori was consumed by a burning fever and haunted by the ghosts of those he slaughtered. Kuniyoshi captures the exact moment Kiyomori's snowy garden transforms into a terrifying army of skeletons.
Maker / Origin
Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798–1861) was one of the last great masters of the Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock print style. While his contemporaries focused on beautiful women and serene landscapes, Kuniyoshi became famous for his dynamic, action-packed depictions of samurai, mythical monsters, and spine-chilling ghost stories.
Condition & Value
The triptych has been mounted/backed onto a single support sheet, with visible vertical fold lines and minor wear along the panel seams. There is some light surface soil and minor fading to the organic pigments, but the overall color retention remains vibrant and the dramatic imagery is beautifully preserved.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.