Kuniyoshi Utagawa (1797-1861)

Utagawa Kuniyoshi, born Yoshisaburō on January 1, 1798, in Edo, was the son of a silk-dyer, Yanagiya Kichiyemon. From a young age, Kuniyoshi was fascinated by ukiyo-e warrior prints and the detailed illustrations in craftsmen manuals, which later influenced his own prints. His talent in drawing was evident by age 12, leading to his acceptance into the studio of Utagawa Toyokuni in 1811. He quickly became one of Toyokuni’s chief pupils, and by 1814, he had adopted the name "Kuniyoshi" and began his career as an independent artist, creating book illustrations and standalone prints.

Kuniyoshi's early career faced challenges, including a lack of commissions and intense competition within the Utagawa school. However, his fortunes changed dramatically with his 1827 commission for "One hundred and eight heroes of the popular Suikoden all told," which depicted the heroes of the Chinese tale "Shuihu Zhuan." This series showcased his unique style, incorporating detailed tattoos and dynamic compositions that became highly popular. Kuniyoshi's warrior prints often included themes of dreams, ghostly apparitions, and superhuman feats, reflecting the public's growing fascination with the ghastly and bizarre. His ability to infuse prints with intense action and emotion won him acclaim and significantly influenced Edo fashion.

Throughout his life, Kuniyoshi also produced landscapes, leveraging Western techniques of shading and perspective, and prints that subtly critiqued the government, particularly during the restrictive Tenpō Reforms. Despite battling palsy in his later years, Kuniyoshi continued to innovate, using cats in place of humans in some prints and exaggerating visual elements for dramatic effect. He remained productive until his death in 1861, witnessing the opening of Yokohama to the West and leaving a lasting impact on the ukiyo-e genre. His diverse body of work continues to be celebrated for its originality, vitality, and masterful depiction of the human and supernatural.

Portrait of the artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi made by his pupil Utagawa Yoshiiku

Signatures from left to right: Ichiyūsai Kuniyoshi ga, Ichiyūsai Kuniyoshi, Ichiyūsai ga