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KUNIYOSHI, Utagawa (1797 - 1861)		108 Heroes of the Popular Suikoden - Soshiko Raio gripping the Lady Hakushuei by the throat -
		Signed:                        Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga Publisher:                   Kaga-ya Kichibei Censor' seal:              kiwame Date:                             c. 1827-30 Size:                             oban tate-e (38 x 24. 5 cms / c. 15" x 9 1/2") Condition: Fine impression and color, very few minor flaws, faint center fold mark, very good general condition. Original album backing. ref. no.: #601867 Price:  € 1,100.00

Soshiko Raio, a captain of foot soldiers for the magistrate is entrusted with tracking down and catching outlaws. For entertainment Raio, one evening, visits a performance of the female singer Hakushuei. When her act finishes, she circulates to collect money at which point Raio realises he has no money with him. Hakushuei is outraged, and a heavy dispute erupts between Raio on the one hand and Hakushuei and her father on the other. With one swift blow of his fist Raio knocks out the father's teeth whereupon the female singer hurries to the magistrate and has Raio arrested. His old mother visits him in prison and just by coincidence Hakushuei appears at the same moment. A dispute between the two women leads to Hakushuei beating up Raio's mother. The prisoner, unable to see his mother endure such pain, is shown here furiously attacking Hakushuei with his fists (in the story, as a prisoner, he actually wore a rack fastened around his neck which he was able to push up and let it crash down with such tremendous force on Hakushuei's head that her skull split in two). For further reading we highly recommend the beautiful book by Inge Klompmakers, "Of Brigands and Bravery - Kuniyoshi's heroes of the Suioden" with full color illustrations of the entire series and a detailed discussion of the subject and its Chinese origin. This design is described and illustrated on pp. 102/102 as no. #27 of the series. Other reference: B. W. Robinson, Kuniyoshi- The Warrior prints, London, 1982, no. S2.67.

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