Horio Mosuke Wrestles the Boar • Japanese Woodblock Print Ukiyo-e - Utagawa Yoshiiku (1833-1904) - Japan - Edo Period (1600-1868)
03
days
17
hours
05
minutes
16
seconds
Starting bid
€ 1
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 € 150 - € 200
No bids placed
Catawiki Buyer Protection
Your payment’s safe with us until you receive your object.View details
Trustpilot 4.4 | 145414 reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
This original Edo-period ukiyo-e woodblock print, titled “Horio Mosuke Wrestles the Boar”, is by Utagawa Yoshiiku and measures 24 × 18 cm.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
** Horio Mosuke Wrestles the Boar — the Future Founder of Matsue Castle — Yoshiiku’s Taiheiki Eiyūden, 1867 **
Artist: Utagawa Yoshiiku (1833–1904)
Title: Hirate Kenmotsu 平手監物 (No. 22, 二十二)
Series: Taiheiki Eiyūden – Biographies of the Heroes of the Taiheiki
Date: Japan, 1867 (late Edo period)
Publisher: Hirookaya Kōsuke (Kikujudō)
Format: Chūban, approx. 24 × 18 cm
_______________________________________________
Impression and Colors: Excellent. Rich, deeply printed pigments throughout — the indigo and crimson squares of the armour lacing (odoshi), the gold-highlighted circular mon on the chest, and the intricate blue-green patterning of the sleeves all register with sharp precision. Strong bokashi gradation visible in the background. The white robe beneath the armour is clean and unfaded. A fine, early impression.
State of Paper: Good. The print has minor toning consistent with age and the sheet carries an album backing.
_______________________________________________
About the print:
Horio Yoshiharu (1544–1611), known in his youth as Mosuke, rose from humble beginnings in Owari province to become one of the leading lords of the Toyotomi regime. The biography on the sheet gives his childhood name as Niōmaru and tells how he fought bravely when Iwakura Castle in Owari fell. It also tells the story the print is built around. As a young man Mosuke lived in the hills and forests, and when Hideyoshi was looking for a hidden path to Inabayama, the castle of the Saitō clan in Mino, he came upon Mosuke catching a wild boar. Impressed by his strength, Hideyoshi took him into service, and Mosuke guided the Oda forces along the secret mountain path that led to the capture of the castle. Kuniyoshi had already used the same boar episode in his Taiheiki Eiyūden of 1848–50, and Yoshiiku returns to it here.
From that point Yoshiharu followed Hideyoshi through his campaigns. The text closes by noting that he received the domain of Hamamatsu in Tōtōmi, worth 120,000 koku, and became one of the chūrō, the three “middle elders” who mediated between Hideyoshi’s senior councillors and his commissioners. He was known for his calm and gentle manner, which earned him the nickname Hotoke no Mosuke, “Mosuke the Buddha”. After Sekigahara he sided with Tokugawa Ieyasu and was moved to Izumo, where he founded Matsue Castle. He died in 1611, the year the castle was completed. Matsue Castle still stands today and is one of the few original castle keeps in Japan to survive, designated a National Treasure.
_______________________________________________
About the Taiheiki Heroes Series:
This series ranks among the most technically demanding chūban prints of the Edo period. Each print required over eight different woodblocks with precise registration and elaborate bokashi techniques. But these are not merely visually complex works of art—many of these prints hold genuine historical significance. It's like collecting pieces of a puzzle of Japanese history! The texts on the reverse and the characters depicted offer insights into one of Japan's most turbulent eras. With 100 prints in the complete series, collecting them is a true pleasure—each print tells the story of a different hero.
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.
** Horio Mosuke Wrestles the Boar — the Future Founder of Matsue Castle — Yoshiiku’s Taiheiki Eiyūden, 1867 **
Artist: Utagawa Yoshiiku (1833–1904)
Title: Hirate Kenmotsu 平手監物 (No. 22, 二十二)
Series: Taiheiki Eiyūden – Biographies of the Heroes of the Taiheiki
Date: Japan, 1867 (late Edo period)
Publisher: Hirookaya Kōsuke (Kikujudō)
Format: Chūban, approx. 24 × 18 cm
_______________________________________________
Impression and Colors: Excellent. Rich, deeply printed pigments throughout — the indigo and crimson squares of the armour lacing (odoshi), the gold-highlighted circular mon on the chest, and the intricate blue-green patterning of the sleeves all register with sharp precision. Strong bokashi gradation visible in the background. The white robe beneath the armour is clean and unfaded. A fine, early impression.
State of Paper: Good. The print has minor toning consistent with age and the sheet carries an album backing.
_______________________________________________
About the print:
Horio Yoshiharu (1544–1611), known in his youth as Mosuke, rose from humble beginnings in Owari province to become one of the leading lords of the Toyotomi regime. The biography on the sheet gives his childhood name as Niōmaru and tells how he fought bravely when Iwakura Castle in Owari fell. It also tells the story the print is built around. As a young man Mosuke lived in the hills and forests, and when Hideyoshi was looking for a hidden path to Inabayama, the castle of the Saitō clan in Mino, he came upon Mosuke catching a wild boar. Impressed by his strength, Hideyoshi took him into service, and Mosuke guided the Oda forces along the secret mountain path that led to the capture of the castle. Kuniyoshi had already used the same boar episode in his Taiheiki Eiyūden of 1848–50, and Yoshiiku returns to it here.
From that point Yoshiharu followed Hideyoshi through his campaigns. The text closes by noting that he received the domain of Hamamatsu in Tōtōmi, worth 120,000 koku, and became one of the chūrō, the three “middle elders” who mediated between Hideyoshi’s senior councillors and his commissioners. He was known for his calm and gentle manner, which earned him the nickname Hotoke no Mosuke, “Mosuke the Buddha”. After Sekigahara he sided with Tokugawa Ieyasu and was moved to Izumo, where he founded Matsue Castle. He died in 1611, the year the castle was completed. Matsue Castle still stands today and is one of the few original castle keeps in Japan to survive, designated a National Treasure.
_______________________________________________
About the Taiheiki Heroes Series:
This series ranks among the most technically demanding chūban prints of the Edo period. Each print required over eight different woodblocks with precise registration and elaborate bokashi techniques. But these are not merely visually complex works of art—many of these prints hold genuine historical significance. It's like collecting pieces of a puzzle of Japanese history! The texts on the reverse and the characters depicted offer insights into one of Japan's most turbulent eras. With 100 prints in the complete series, collecting them is a true pleasure—each print tells the story of a different hero.
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)
Artist
Utagawa Yoshiiku (1833-1904)
Country of Origin
Japan
Attribution
Original
Height
24 cm
Width
18 cm
Title of artwork
Horio Mosuke Wrestles the Boar • Japanese Woodblock Print Ukiyo-e
Condition
Excellent condition
Provenance
Private collection
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
