18 Utagawa Kuniaki II 1835 – 1888 The Sumo Wrestler Arashiyama Sutekichi

Japan, Meiji period (late 19th century)

This classic portrait from the world of traditional Japanese wrestling was produced by the print artist Utagawa Kuniaki II. The print clearly depicts the sumo wrestler Arashiyama Sutekichi. The massive wrestler is shown standing in the ring (dohyō), wearing a rich ceremonial apron (keshō-mawashi) decorated with crashing waves and a boat laden with rice bales. In the lower-left section, the print bears the artist's signature, read as "Kuniaki, Hachisuka". In the lower right corner, there is a censor's seal alongside the publisher's seal of Dai-Hei-han (Shojudo). An exact match of this specific woodblock print is held in the prestigious collection of the British Museum, providing this artwork with excellent institutional provenance and collectible value.