Sadahide · Kumasaka Chōhan and his robber band at the Lookout Pine · Yoshitsune legend triptych, c. - Japan - Edo Period (1600-1868)
01
day
02
hours
22
minutes
15
seconds
Current bid
€ 88
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Giovanni Bottero
Holds a master’s in Japanese art history with over 10 years’ expertise in Asian art.
Estimate € 350 - € 450
 | €88 | |
|---|---|---|
 | €1 |
Catawiki Buyer Protection
Your payment’s safe with us until you receive your object.View details
Trustpilot 4.4 | 142645 reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
Original Edo-period woodblock print triptych by Utagawa Sadahide (c. 1847–1852), Ōban tate-e in nishiki-e, three sheets (each about 24 × 36 cm), depicting Kumasaka Chōhan and his gang beneath the Lookout Pine, with censor seals and a publisher’s mark, in good condition with a strong impression despite slight sunfading.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Artist: Utagawa Sadahide 歌川貞秀 (1807–1873), signed Gyokuransai Sadahide ga (玉蘭齋貞秀画)
Subject: Kumasaka Chōhan 熊坂長範 and his gang beneath the Lookout Pine (monomi no matsu 物見の松)
Text panel: headed 繍像略傳史 (Shūzō ryakudenshi, reading provisional), written by Ryūkatei Tanekazu 柳下亭種員誌
Date: c. 1847–1852 (Kōka–Kaei era)
Technique: Woodblock print (mokuhanga), nishiki-e (polychrome)
Format: Ōban tate-e triptych (three sheets each approx. 24*36cm)
Seals: censor seals and a publisher's mark on each sheet
--------------------------------------------------------
CONDITION
The impression is strong and the details are well preserved. The colors tones have shifted because of some sunfading, but the colours remain saturated. The sheets are firm and supple, with some minor soiling in the margins and minor wormholes at the bottom of the lest sheet. Good condition overall!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
The Scene
Kumasaka Chōhan is the legendary master thief of the Yoshitsune cycle. The young Ushiwakamaru, the future Minamoto no Yoshitsune, was travelling north to the Fujiwara lord Hidehira in Ōshū with the gold merchant Kichiji. Chōhan's gang went after Kichiji's goods, and Ushiwakamaru killed Chōhan in the fight. The sources disagree on where this happened. The kōwakamai Eboshi-ori and the Noh play Genzai Kumasaka place the attack at Aohaka in Mino Province, while the Noh Eboshi-ori and Kumasaka place it at Akasaka. The Gikeiki does not name Chōhan at all: it gives the robbers as Fujisawa Nyūdō and Yuri no Tarō, and sets the attack at Kagami in Ōmi. Both of those names also appear here among the cartouches, as Fujisawa Nyūdō and Yuri no Tarō. Sadahide seems to have brought both traditions into one gang.
Many places claimed a relic of the legend. The most famous was Kumasaka Chōhan's Lookout Pine on Aonogahara in Mino, with his "seat rock" and "hidden stable" nearby. A pine at Ayado in Tarui, Gifu Prefecture, is still shown today as the Lookout Pine. In the traditional telling, Chōhan watched the highway from the top of a huge pine and picked out his victims below.
Sadahide sets the whole gang under the tree, with each rogue identified by a name cartouche. Chōhan sits at the centre in a black robe over his armour while a gang member pours sake into a huge red lacquer cup. One lookout scans the road from a high branch while another climbs the trunk. On the right, the gang gathers with a wide assortment of weapons, including a large axe, an oversized mallet, a saw and a hoe. On the far left, the cartouches name Ushiwakamaru and Kichiji themselves, the intended victims. The text panel by the gesaku writer Ryūkatei Tanekazu retells Chōhan's career.
Seller's Story
I've been collecting Japanese woodblock prints for quite a while now — everything from classic ukiyo-e to shin-hanga and sōsaku-hanga. What started as a personal passion eventually turned into something more, and these days I source prints from auctions, galleries, and private collections across Japan and Europe.
With growing worldwide interest in Japanese woodblock prints, gallery prices have been climbing steadily. My goal is simple: offer high-quality, authentic prints at reasonable prices. I'm picky about what I sell — I look for pieces that have been stored properly, kept flat, and are free from serious foxing, stains, or damage.
I'm based in Germany, which means EU buyers won't deal with any import duties or taxes. For US buyers, original artworks under HS code 9702 are duty-free as well. And wherever you are, I pack everything carefully with multiple layers of protection so your print arrives safely.
If you have questions about a piece, just reach out. You will get access to contact me once you've won an item from my lots.
Artist: Utagawa Sadahide 歌川貞秀 (1807–1873), signed Gyokuransai Sadahide ga (玉蘭齋貞秀画)
Subject: Kumasaka Chōhan 熊坂長範 and his gang beneath the Lookout Pine (monomi no matsu 物見の松)
Text panel: headed 繍像略傳史 (Shūzō ryakudenshi, reading provisional), written by Ryūkatei Tanekazu 柳下亭種員誌
Date: c. 1847–1852 (Kōka–Kaei era)
Technique: Woodblock print (mokuhanga), nishiki-e (polychrome)
Format: Ōban tate-e triptych (three sheets each approx. 24*36cm)
Seals: censor seals and a publisher's mark on each sheet
--------------------------------------------------------
CONDITION
The impression is strong and the details are well preserved. The colors tones have shifted because of some sunfading, but the colours remain saturated. The sheets are firm and supple, with some minor soiling in the margins and minor wormholes at the bottom of the lest sheet. Good condition overall!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
The Scene
Kumasaka Chōhan is the legendary master thief of the Yoshitsune cycle. The young Ushiwakamaru, the future Minamoto no Yoshitsune, was travelling north to the Fujiwara lord Hidehira in Ōshū with the gold merchant Kichiji. Chōhan's gang went after Kichiji's goods, and Ushiwakamaru killed Chōhan in the fight. The sources disagree on where this happened. The kōwakamai Eboshi-ori and the Noh play Genzai Kumasaka place the attack at Aohaka in Mino Province, while the Noh Eboshi-ori and Kumasaka place it at Akasaka. The Gikeiki does not name Chōhan at all: it gives the robbers as Fujisawa Nyūdō and Yuri no Tarō, and sets the attack at Kagami in Ōmi. Both of those names also appear here among the cartouches, as Fujisawa Nyūdō and Yuri no Tarō. Sadahide seems to have brought both traditions into one gang.
Many places claimed a relic of the legend. The most famous was Kumasaka Chōhan's Lookout Pine on Aonogahara in Mino, with his "seat rock" and "hidden stable" nearby. A pine at Ayado in Tarui, Gifu Prefecture, is still shown today as the Lookout Pine. In the traditional telling, Chōhan watched the highway from the top of a huge pine and picked out his victims below.
Sadahide sets the whole gang under the tree, with each rogue identified by a name cartouche. Chōhan sits at the centre in a black robe over his armour while a gang member pours sake into a huge red lacquer cup. One lookout scans the road from a high branch while another climbs the trunk. On the right, the gang gathers with a wide assortment of weapons, including a large axe, an oversized mallet, a saw and a hoe. On the far left, the cartouches name Ushiwakamaru and Kichiji themselves, the intended victims. The text panel by the gesaku writer Ryūkatei Tanekazu retells Chōhan's career.
Seller's Story
I've been collecting Japanese woodblock prints for quite a while now — everything from classic ukiyo-e to shin-hanga and sōsaku-hanga. What started as a personal passion eventually turned into something more, and these days I source prints from auctions, galleries, and private collections across Japan and Europe.
With growing worldwide interest in Japanese woodblock prints, gallery prices have been climbing steadily. My goal is simple: offer high-quality, authentic prints at reasonable prices. I'm picky about what I sell — I look for pieces that have been stored properly, kept flat, and are free from serious foxing, stains, or damage.
I'm based in Germany, which means EU buyers won't deal with any import duties or taxes. For US buyers, original artworks under HS code 9702 are duty-free as well. And wherever you are, I pack everything carefully with multiple layers of protection so your print arrives safely.
If you have questions about a piece, just reach out. You will get access to contact me once you've won an item from my lots.
Details
Dynastic Style/Period
Edo Period (1600-1868)
Number of objects
1
Country of Origin
Japan
Attribution
Original
Title of artwork
Sadahide · Kumasaka Chōhan and his robber band at the Lookout Pine · Yoshitsune legend triptych, c.
Condition
Good condition
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
