Guan Yu, Liu Bei, and Zhang Fei
Medium
Color woodblock print; shikishiban, surimono
Dimensions
22.4 × 19.8 cm (8 7/8 × 7 13/16 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
81296
Art Historical Context
This vibrant color woodblock print by Utagawa Kunisada I (also known as Toyokuni III) captures three legendary figures from Chinese history and literature: the warrior Guan Yu, the future emperor Liu Bei, and the fierce Zhang Fei. Created in 1825 during Japan’s Edo period, the work draws from the classic novel *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, portraying the sworn brothers whose loyalty and bravery captivated audiences across East Asia. Kunisada, one of the most prolific ukiyo-e artists of his time, specialized in dynamic compositions and expressive figures, often blending theatrical energy wit...
About the Artist
Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III) · 1786–1864
Utagawa Kunisada I, also known as Toyokuni III (1786–1865), was born Sumida Shōgorō in the Honjo district of Edo (modern Tokyo) into a family that operated a hereditary ferry-boat service, providing stability after his father's early death. Displaying prodigious talent in drawing from childhood, he became an apprentice to the master Utagawa Toyokuni I around 1801 at age fifteen, entering the prest...