Samurai Japanese Print

This woodblock print depict the Soga Monogatari, or "The Tale of the Soga Brothers," is the story of the Soga brothers, Soga Gorô and Soga Jûrô, who seek their father's murderer in order to kill the murderer and avenge their father. The story has been told and retold with much variation and elaboration, in a variety of forms but is based originally on a true historical incident, in which two brothers by the name of Soga , on 1193 killed Kudô Suketsune, who had killed their father in 1176. Jûrô, however, was killed in the fighting; Gorô died later that same year.
Kudô had been a retainer to the Shogun, Minamoto no Yoritomo, making Yoritomo a possible target for revenge as well. Though initially concerned about this possibility, Yoritomo is said to have commented on the brothers' bravery, and to have been so moved as to desire to pardon Soga Gorô, the surviving brother. Suketsune's son, Inubômaru, protested however, and in the end, Soga Gorô was formally executed.
Kuniyoshi Utagawa (1797-1861), 歌川国芳, Son of a silk dyer, he was born in 1797 under the name of Yoshizo. In his youth, he probably assisted his father, providing the designs for the pieces to be dyed, and thus naturally oriented himself towards the world of art. He was accepted as a pupil by Toyokuni Utagawa in 1814. Later, he founded his his own school and his drawings became popular. Famous for his prints of actors and animals (especially cats that he adored), he owes his inspiration above all to legends, to the fantastic, poetic and warrior universe of which we find a strong influence in his work. He is the author of 10,000 prints and several series. The great earthquake of 1855, after which, returning home late, he was given for dead by his family and the members of his workshop, marks the end of his great period. Suffering from illness and depression, he now produces little. He died in Edo in 1861.