1797-1861
One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Shuihuzhuan: Guan Sheng, The Great Halberd
(Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori: Daito Kansho)
title at upper right, Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no ichi nin: Daito Kanshyau, signed Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga, with censor's seal, kiwame (approved), followed by the publisher's seal Kichi, Ryogoku, Kagaya (Kagaya Kichiemon, Kichibei), ca. 1827-1830
oban tate-e 15 by 10 1/4 in., 38 by 26 cm
This composition is paired with another from the same series to form a diptych which depicts the brief clash between Guan Sheng and the warrior Zhang Qing (in Japanese, Chosei) who is highly skilled in throwing stones. Guan Sheng defends himself against Zhang Qing's stones with a large weapon.
References:
B. W. Robinson, Kuniyoshi, Victoria and Albert Museum, 1961, no. 11
Inge Klompmakers, Of Brigands and Bravery: Kuniyoshi's Heroes of the Suikoden, 1998, p. 154, no. 49a
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (collections.mfa.org), accession no. 11.30461
(inv. no. 10-5175)
price: $4,700