Japanese samurai warrior woodblock prints (musha-e of ukiyo-e)

Kabuki and ukiyo-e are the amenities for the townspeople in Edo period (1603-1683). Samurai and ancient battle were one of the popular themes of the theatrical performance and woodblock printing. The stories of samurai made them excited and grieved same as today. 

 

Though there were countless ukiyo-e artists in Edo period, not all of them drew the pictures of samurai, musha-e (武者絵). The only artists who were good at expressing their bravery and painfulness with impressive pictures. Especially Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798-1861) and his disciple Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892). 




Okumura Masanobu (1686-1764)

Watanabe Shizuma
Nakamura Masatatsu
Tominomori Masakata
Honjo Shigenaga parriying an exploding shell
Morozumi Masakiyo

Ochiai/Utagawa Yoshiiku (1833-1904)

Kato Yoshiaki
Konishi Yukinaga
Amago Katsuhisa
Suzuki Magoichi






Utagawa Yoshitora (fl. c. 1836-1882)

Battle of Kurikara in Kaga Province
The Best 16 commanders of Tokugawa Clan

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892)

Oya Mitsukuni and ghosts
Tomoe gozen
Fujimara Yasumasa plays the flute in moonlight
The Loyal Samurai Break into the Mansion in the Night Attack

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Books about samurai ukiyo-e prints

 

 

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