Utagawa Kuniteru – The Great Battle of Oku-Aizu: Ashina Moritaka Flees and Surrenders - Japan - Edo Period (1600-1868)
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Selected by Giovanni Bottero
Holds a master’s in Japanese art history with over 10 years’ expertise in Asian art.
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Original Edo period woodblock print by Utagawa Kuniteru, titled The Great Battle of Oku-Aizu: Ashina Moritaka Flees and Surrenders, c. 1868, a vertical ōban triptych in three sheets each about 37 × 25 cm, ink and colour on paper, in good condition, signed Ichiunsai Kuniteru.
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Description from the seller
** This work is a fine example of how artists reported politically sensitive news in 1868. The title names Ashina Moritaka, a 16th-century lord of Aizu, but the subject, the defeat and surrender of Aizu, matches the events of that year, when the Aizu domain held out against the imperial army and surrendered after the siege of Wakamatsu Castle. Using an older historical name as cover was a standard way to publish current military news while censorship still applied. Contemporary buyers would have understood exactly what was being shown **
Artist: Utagawa Kuniteru (歌川国輝), signed Ichiunsai Kuniteru [confirm generation]
Title: 奥會津大合戦 芦名盛隆敗走 遂ニ降伏平定圖 – Oku-Aizu ōgassen, Ashina Moritaka haisō tsui ni kōfuku heitei zu (The Great Battle of Oku-Aizu: Ashina Moritaka Flees, Finally Surrenders, and the Region Is Pacified)
Subtitle (left sheet): A distant view from the Imaichi road near Nikkō, over the Takahara pass, to Bandai-san and Lake Inawashiro
Subject: The Aizu campaign of the Boshin War, presented under a historical disguise
Technique: Original woodblock print (nishiki-e), ink and colour on paper
Date: c. 1868
Format: Vertical ōban triptych, three separate sheets, each approx. 37*25cm
_______________________________________________________________________________
CONDITION
Impression & Colours: A well inked impression with colors maintains their vibrancy across the sheet. The whole landscape composition presents very well.
Paper: The paper is firm with some minor wears along the margins and minor soiling across the sheets. Good condition for this rare design!
____________________________________________________________
About the Aizu War
The Aizu domain, under Matsudaira Katamori, was the most determined supporter of the Tokugawa shogunate in the north and became the main target of the new government's forces in 1868. The campaign ended with a month-long siege of Wakamatsu (Tsuruga) Castle and the domain's surrender in the autumn of that year. The fall of Aizu, including the story of the young Byakkotai fighters, became one of the defining episodes of the Meiji Restoration.
About the artist
The name Kuniteru was used by several Utagawa artists, and none of them is widely known today. Kuniteru II (1829–1874), a pupil of Kunisada, is best known for scenes of Japan's modernisation; he is described as depicting the manners and sights of the late Tokugawa and early Meiji eras, particularly early industrial scenes, and in 1873 he designed educational prints published by the Ministry of Education. A large landscape like this shows an ambitious side of an artist who is usually remembered for smaller-scale genre work, and that is exactly why it deserves a second look from collectors
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.
** This work is a fine example of how artists reported politically sensitive news in 1868. The title names Ashina Moritaka, a 16th-century lord of Aizu, but the subject, the defeat and surrender of Aizu, matches the events of that year, when the Aizu domain held out against the imperial army and surrendered after the siege of Wakamatsu Castle. Using an older historical name as cover was a standard way to publish current military news while censorship still applied. Contemporary buyers would have understood exactly what was being shown **
Artist: Utagawa Kuniteru (歌川国輝), signed Ichiunsai Kuniteru [confirm generation]
Title: 奥會津大合戦 芦名盛隆敗走 遂ニ降伏平定圖 – Oku-Aizu ōgassen, Ashina Moritaka haisō tsui ni kōfuku heitei zu (The Great Battle of Oku-Aizu: Ashina Moritaka Flees, Finally Surrenders, and the Region Is Pacified)
Subtitle (left sheet): A distant view from the Imaichi road near Nikkō, over the Takahara pass, to Bandai-san and Lake Inawashiro
Subject: The Aizu campaign of the Boshin War, presented under a historical disguise
Technique: Original woodblock print (nishiki-e), ink and colour on paper
Date: c. 1868
Format: Vertical ōban triptych, three separate sheets, each approx. 37*25cm
_______________________________________________________________________________
CONDITION
Impression & Colours: A well inked impression with colors maintains their vibrancy across the sheet. The whole landscape composition presents very well.
Paper: The paper is firm with some minor wears along the margins and minor soiling across the sheets. Good condition for this rare design!
____________________________________________________________
About the Aizu War
The Aizu domain, under Matsudaira Katamori, was the most determined supporter of the Tokugawa shogunate in the north and became the main target of the new government's forces in 1868. The campaign ended with a month-long siege of Wakamatsu (Tsuruga) Castle and the domain's surrender in the autumn of that year. The fall of Aizu, including the story of the young Byakkotai fighters, became one of the defining episodes of the Meiji Restoration.
About the artist
The name Kuniteru was used by several Utagawa artists, and none of them is widely known today. Kuniteru II (1829–1874), a pupil of Kunisada, is best known for scenes of Japan's modernisation; he is described as depicting the manners and sights of the late Tokugawa and early Meiji eras, particularly early industrial scenes, and in 1873 he designed educational prints published by the Ministry of Education. A large landscape like this shows an ambitious side of an artist who is usually remembered for smaller-scale genre work, and that is exactly why it deserves a second look from collectors
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)
Country of Origin
Japan
Attribution
Original
Height
36 cm
Width
73 cm
Title of artwork
Utagawa Kuniteru – The Great Battle of Oku-Aizu: Ashina Moritaka Flees and Surrenders
Condition
Good condition
Provenance
Private collection
Authenticity
Original/official
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