Kuniyoshi: Station Mitsuke--Yoritomo Releasing Cranes

Artist: Utagawa Kuniyoshi Title: Mitsuke Station: Yoritomo Releasing Cranes Series: “Fifty-three Parallels for the Tôkaidô Road”. Date: ca. 1845 Mitsuke: Minamoto no Yoritomo Releasing Cranes with Identification Tags. The umbrella features an oxidized orange pigment. The crane, a symbol of longevity, was thought to live one thousand years. Here the first shogun of Japan (1192-99) is shown attaching gold bands to the legs of the cranes to determine their age scientifically. He is shown larger than life and watching three banded cranes lift off over the waves as an attendant holds a large umbrella. The final comment in Japanese in the cartouche says “People say that these cranes are flying about this area even today.” Condition: Excellent impression, color and condition. Dimensions: ôban Publisher: Iba-ya Kyubei Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga with his paulawnia sealLIterature: See Tôkaidô Texts and Tales, edited by Andreas Marks, page 100, number 29B.