Sunday, January 24, 2016

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Single Panels and Diptychs

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - The Poet Dainagon Sees an Apparition, 1860The Poet Dainagon Sees an Apparition, 1860


This week is the ten year anniversary for Monster Brains, I've chosen to share a wide assortment of Kuniyoshi's incredible work to mark the occasion. Over the years Monster Brains has grown from a simple collection of links to a vast resource onto itself. This is due, in part, to my obsessive nature in collecting the artwork that I'm passionate about for myself but also my commitment to sharing this work with others that will appreciate it as well.

That said, I make my living as an artist and it has been growing more difficult to take the time away from my work to research and prepare posts for the site. You would probably be shocked to know the amount of time that I invest into many of the posts on Monster Brains. I've resisted putting advertisements on the site to take on additional revenue but recently I have placed a donation button on the site. If you appreciate Monster Brains and the work put into the thousands of artworks that I've shared over the past ten years, if you anticipate the hundreds of future posts that I have in various stages of planning, please donate whatever you can, it will be greatly appreciated.

The donation button can be found on the top right of Monster Brains.

Thank you! I look forward to many more years of discovering and sharing the more obscure and fascinating artists associated with the genre of monsters.

 Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Takiguchi U-Toneri Watanabe no Tsuna about to cut off the arm of Rashomon, who grasps his hair. Edo PeriodTakiguchi U-Toneri Watanabe no Tsuna about to cut off the arm of Rashomon, who grasps his hair. Edo Period

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Oiwake- Oiwa and Takuetsu, from the series Sixty-nine Stations of the Kisokaidô Road (Kisokaidô rokujûkyû tsugi no uchi) 1852Oiwake- Oiwa and Takuetsu, from the series Sixty-nine Stations of the Kisokaidô Road (Kisokaidô rokujûkyû tsugi no uchi) 1852

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Wada Heita Tanenaga killing a huge python by driving his sword into the back of its head by a waterfall. Edo PeriodWada Heita Tanenaga killing a huge python by driving his sword into the back of its head by a waterfall. Edo Period

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Hangami Danjo-no-jo Arakage killing a giant salamander in the Tontagawa river in the province of Izumo, Edo PeriodHangami Danjo-no-jo Arakage killing a giant salamander in the Tontagawa river in the province of Izumo, Edo Period

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Tsuzoku Suikoden Goketsu Hyakuhachi-nin no Hitori, Ju-unryu Kosonsho, a sorcerer, evoking a storm-dragon. 1827Tsuzoku Suikoden Goketsu Hyakuhachi-nin no Hitori, Ju-unryu Kosonsho, a sorcerer, evoking a storm-dragon. 1827

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Usui Matagoro slays a giant white monkey in the mountains of Hida, a long stream of black smoke curling up from the monster's mouth. Edo PeriodUsui Matagoro slays a giant white monkey in the mountains of Hida, a long stream of black smoke curling up from the monster's mouth, Edo Period

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Shinano kuni no Zen-no-jo (Zen-no-jo of Shinano) _ Honcho nijushi-ko (Twenty-four Paragons of Filial Piety of Our Country) 1842-43Shinano kuni no Zen-no-jo (Zen-no-jo of Shinano) _ Honcho nijushi-ko (Twenty-four Paragons of Filial Piety of Our Country) 1842-43

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - The diver Tamatori, who has penetrated the Dragon King's palace, plunging through waves with outstretched knife and Treasure Pearl, pursued by a dragon while escaping from the Dragon King, Edo PeriodThe diver Tamatori, who has penetrated the Dragon King's palace, plunging through waves with outstretched knife and Treasure Pearl, pursued by a dragon while escaping from the Dragon King, Edo Period

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Usugumo (No. 19 Wisps of Cloud) 1845-46Usugumo (No. 19 Wisps of Cloud) 1845-46

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Keyamura Rokusuke struggling with three kappa on the bank of a river in which a fourth kappa also is swimming. Edo PeriodKeyamura Rokusuke struggling with three kappa on the bank of a river in which a fourth kappa also is swimming. Edo Period

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Tsuzoku Suikoden Goketsu Hyakuhachi-nin no Hitori Konsei Mao Bunzui invoking demons, stones and a storm by sorcery. 1827Tsuzoku Suikoden Goketsu Hyakuhachi-nin no Hitori Konsei Mao Bunzui invoking demons, stones and a storm by sorcery. 1827

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Tsuzoku Suikoden Goketsu Hyakuhachi-nin no Hitori Konsei Mao Bunzui invoking demons, stones and a storm by sorcery. 1827 (version 2) Tsuzoku Suikoden Goketsu Hyakuhachi-nin no Hitori Konsei Mao Bunzui invoking demons, stones and a storm by sorcery. 1827 (version 2)

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Watanabe Genji Tsuna, one of Raiko's Shitenno, grasping the arm of the demon of the Rashomon Gate, Kyoto, while drawing his sword, amidst lightning and clouds. Edo PeriodWatanabe Genji Tsuna, one of Raiko's Shitenno, grasping the arm of the demon of the Rashomon Gate, Kyoto, while drawing his sword, amidst lightning and clouds. Edo Period

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - San ryaku den (The Secrets of Strategy) Hodo Yoshitsune koi no Minamoto ichidaigami (Biography of Yoshitsune) 1853San ryaku den (The Secrets of Strategy) Hodo Yoshitsune koi no Minamoto ichidaigami (Biography of Yoshitsune) 1853

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - The Story of Oiwa and Tamiya Lemon, 1836The Story of Oiwa and Tamiya Lemon, 1836

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Living Dolls of Asakusa's Okuyama, 1855 Living Dolls of Asakusa's Okuyama, 1855

Utagawa Kuniyoshi -  Title Unknown, 1856Title Unknown, 1856

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Leftside - Ichikawa Kodanji IV as the ghost of Shingo Asakura, Rightside - Ichikawa Kodanji IV as the ghost of Asakura Tôgo, 1847-52Leftside - Ichikawa Kodanji IV as the ghost of Shingo Asakura, Rightside - Ichikawa Kodanji IV as the ghost of Asakura Tôgo, 1847-52

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - The sick Minamoto no Yorimitsu (Raiko) drawing his sword as the earth spider envelops him in its web. 1855The sick Minamoto no Yorimitsu (Raiko) drawing his sword as the earth spider envelops him in its web. 1855

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Moonlit scene of a travelling warrior receiving a child from a ghost, 1845Moonlit scene of a travelling warrior receiving a child from a ghost, 1845

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Taira no Koremochi killing the demon woman with a long sword. Edo PeriodTaira no Koremochi killing the demon woman with a long sword. Edo Period

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Momotaro and his companions the monkey, the badger, and the pheasant, with a captive demon. The 'Five Precious Things' on a stand behind them. 1855Momotaro and his companions the monkey, the badger, and the pheasant, with a captive demon. The Five Precious Things; on a stand behind them, 1855

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Tsuzoku Suikoden Goketsu Hyakuhachi-nin no Hitori, Chusenko Teitoku-Son killing huge blue snake with his sword. 1827Tsuzoku Suikoden Goketsu Hyakuhachi-nin no Hitori, Chusenko Teitoku-Son killing huge blue snake with his sword. 1827

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Takagi Toranosuke capturing a kappa under the water in the Tamura river in the province of Sagami. Edo PeriodTakagi Toranosuke capturing a kappa under the water in the Tamura river in the province of Sagami. Edo Period

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Takeuchi-no-sukune looking over the side of his ship, being offered two magic jewels, senju and manju, by the Dragon King. 1855Takeuchi-no-sukune looking over the side of his ship, being offered two magic jewels, senju and manju, by the Dragon King. 1855

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Kidomaru seated cross-legged on the head of a giant python, learning magic from the tengu, 1843Kidomaru seated cross-legged on the head of a giant python, learning magic from the tengu, 1843

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - The famous swordsman Miyamoto Musashi battling with a mountain hermit who has turned into a monster. Edo PeriodThe famous swordsman Miyamoto Musashi battling with a mountain hermit who has turned into a monster. Edo Period

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Oki Jiro Hiroari battling the nue, revealed to be a giant tengu (bird-like goblin) 1815-19Oki Jiro Hiroari battling the nue, revealed to be a giant tengu (bird-like goblin) 1815-19

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Ryuko tako no asobi (Fashionable Octopus Games) 1840-42Ryuko tako no asobi (Fashionable Octopus Games) 1840-42

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Kamada Matahachi killing a monstrous cat in the mountains of Ise Province. Edo PeriodKamada Matahachi killing a monstrous cat in the mountains of Ise Province. Edo Period

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Scene from a Ghost Story- The Okazaki Cat Demon, 19th CScene from a Ghost Story - The Okazaki Cat Demon, 19th C

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Kintaro zukushi - Sumo no zu (The Complete Kintaro - The Sumo Bout) 1840Kintaro zukushi - Sumo no zu (The Complete Kintaro - The Sumo Bout) 1840

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - The Trigram Xun or Wind (Son, kaze), from the series Pictures of the Eight Trigrams in Chinese Divination (Shûeki hakke e) 1830'sThe Trigram Xun or Wind (Son, kaze), from the series Pictures of the Eight Trigrams in Chinese Divination (Shûeki hakke e) 1830's

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - The Trigram Zhen or Thunder (Shin, kaminari), from the series Pictures of the Eight Trigrams in Chinese Divination (Shûeki hakke e)  1830'sThe Trigram Zhen or Thunder (Shin, kaminari), from the series Pictures of the Eight Trigrams in Chinese Divination (Shûeki hakke e)  1830's

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Title- Ôtani Furuinosuke, from the series Eight Hundred Heroes of the Japanese Shuihuzhuan (Honchô Suikoden gôyû happyakunin no hitori)  1845Ôtani Furuinosuke, from the series Eight Hundred Heroes of the Japanese Shuihuzhuan (Honchô Suikoden gôyû happyakunin no hitori)  1845

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Kisokaido rokujoku tsugi no uchi (Sixty-Nine Post Stations of the Kisokaido) 1852Kisokaido rokujoku tsugi no uchi (Sixty-Nine Post Stations of the Kisokaido) 1852

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Saganoike Heikuro Masatora, a retainer of Kusunoki Masashige, killing the monstrous wild giant boar with a sword, 19th CSaganoike Heikuro Masatora, a retainer of Kusunoki Masashige, killing the monstrous wild giant boar with a sword, 19th C

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Yamamoto Kansuke, from the series Lives of Remarkable People Renowned for Loyalty and Virtue (Chûkô meiyo kijin den) 1845Yamamoto Kansuke, from the series Lives of Remarkable People Renowned for Loyalty and Virtue (Chûkô meiyo kijin den) 1845

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Inamura Daikaku Masanori killing the monstrous witch cat of Koshin-yama, 19th CInamura Daikaku Masanori killing the monstrous witch cat of Koshin-yama, 19th C

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Izumo no Imaro, 1834-35Izumo no Imaro, 1834-35

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Koshibe no Sugaru Captures a Thunder Monster in Toyora Village (Koshibe no Sugaru Toyora no sato ni rai o torau) 1834-35Koshibe no Sugaru Captures a Thunder Monster in Toyora Village (Koshibe no Sugaru Toyora no sato ni rai o torau) 1834-35

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Konjin Chôgorô, from the series Contest of Hot-blooded Heroes in Bold Patterns (Date moyô kekki kurabe) 1845-46Konjin Chôgorô, from the series Contest of Hot-blooded Heroes in Bold Patterns (Date moyô kekki kurabe) 1845-46

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Honcho musha kagami (Mirror of Warriors of Our Country) Kintaro seizing Raijin the thundergod, 1855Honcho musha kagami (Mirror of Warriors of Our Country) Kintaro seizing Raijin the thundergod, 1855

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - MIyamoto Musashi, from the series A Suikoden of Japanese Heroes (Eiyû Nihon Suikoden) 1843MIyamoto Musashi, from the series A Suikoden of Japanese Heroes (Eiyû Nihon Suikoden) 1843

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Matsui Tamijiro, sword in hand, fighting a giant snake, Edo PeriodMatsui Tamijiro, sword in hand, fighting a giant snake, Edo Period

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - oban tate-e. Chinzei Hachiro Tametomo and Raiden, god of thunder, at a waterfall in Kyushu, Edo PeriodChinzei Hachiro Tametomo and Raiden, god of thunder, at a waterfall in Kyushu, Edo Period

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - oban tate-e. Nagasaki Kangayu-saemon, holding a large bow, riddled with arrows, and enveloped by a dragon. Edo PeriodNagasaki Kangayu-saemon, holding a large bow, riddled with arrows, and enveloped by a dragon. Edo Period

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Sagi-no-ike Heikuro, fighting a giant python barehanded in the mountains. 1855Sagi-no-ike Heikuro, fighting a giant python barehanded in the mountains. 1855

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Poem by Ônakatomi no Yoshinobu Ason - Kamiya Niemon, from the series Ogura Imitations of One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets (Ogura nazorae hyakunin isshu) 1845-48Poem by Ônakatomi no Yoshinobu Ason - Kamiya Niemon, from the series Ogura Imitations of One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets (Ogura nazorae hyakunin isshu) 1845-48

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Saginoike Heikuro fights the giant snake at the lake of Sayama. 1830-32Saginoike Heikuro fights the giant snake at the lake of Sayama. 1830-32

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Honcho musha kagami (Mirror of Warriors of Our Country) Iga Jutaro, his knee on a statue's head, reading a scroll; the witch Takiyashi-hime, holding a sword, 1855Honcho musha kagami (Mirror of Warriors of Our Country) Iga Jutaro, his knee on a statue's head, reading a scroll; the witch Takiyashi-hime, holding a sword, 1855

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Ding Desun using both hands to drive his sword into an enormous snake, 1827-30Ding Desun using both hands to drive his sword into an enormous snake, 1827-30

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Prince Yoshitsune (Ushiwaka-maru) practising fencing with the tengu under the direction of their king, Sojo-bo, with Kisanda in attendance, Edo PeriodPrince Yoshitsune (Ushiwaka-maru) practising fencing with the tengu under the direction of their king, Sojo-bo, with Kisanda in attendance, Edo Period

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Honcho musha kagami (Mirror of Warriors of Our Country) Jiraiya loading his gun amongst rocks by a waterfall with a large green and yellow toad, 1855Honcho musha kagami (Mirror of Warriors of Our Country) Jiraiya loading his gun amongst rocks by a waterfall with a large green and yellow toad, 1855

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Chusenko Tei Tokuson (Arrow-shot Tiger Ding Desun, 1845-50Chusenko Tei Tokuson (Arrow-shot Tiger Ding Desun, 1845-50

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Hodo Yoshitsune koi no Minamoto ichidaigami (Biography of Yoshitsune) 1848-53Hodo Yoshitsune koi no Minamoto ichidaigami (Biography of Yoshitsune) 1848-53

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Tenjiku Tokubei and Gama no Sennin, from the series Mirror of Warriors of Our Country (Honchô musha kagami) 1855Tenjiku Tokubei and Gama no Sennin, from the series Mirror of Warriors of Our Country (Honchô musha kagami) 1855

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Chusenko Tei Tokuson (Arrow-shot Tiger Ding Desun, 1827-30Chusenko Tei Tokuson (Arrow-shot Tiger Ding Desun, 1827-30

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Moonlight over Mount Yoshino, 1886Moonlight over Mount Yoshino, 1886

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Ario-maru, 1833-35Ario-maru, 1833-35

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Akugenda Yoshihira, returning as a ghost, executes vengeance with a thunderbolt on his slayer, Namba Jiro (defeating the source of the evil). Edo PeriodAkugenda Yoshihira, returning as a ghost, executes vengeance with a thunderbolt on his slayer, Namba Jiro (defeating the source of the evil). Edo Period

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - The arhat Nakasaina Sonja seated on a rock, with a dragon emerging from the bowl he holds. Edo PeriodThe arhat Nakasaina Sonja seated on a rock, with a dragon emerging from the bowl he holds. Edo Period

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Ghost, 19th CGhost, 19th C

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Actors Ichikawa Kodanji IV as the Ghost of Kozakura Tôgô, 1851Actors Ichikawa Kodanji IV as the Ghost of Kozakura Tôgô, 1851

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Benkei Fighting the Ghost of Taira Tomomori, 1818Benkei Fighting the Ghost of Taira Tomomori, 1818

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - A Scene from the Play "Ghost of Oiwa" (Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan) 1836A Scene from the Play "Ghost of Oiwa" (Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan) 1836

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - The Apparition of Shichi-menjin at Mt. Minobu in the 9th month of 1277, 19th CThe Apparition of Shichi-menjin at Mt. Minobu in the 9th month of 1277, 19th C

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - From The Life Of A Hundred Generals, 19th CFrom The Life Of A Hundred Generals, 19th C

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - The Poet Dainagon Sees an Apparition, 1860 (version 2)The Poet Dainagon Sees an Apparition, 1860 (version 2)

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Asakura Togo Borei, 1851Asakura Togo Borei, 1851

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Kamiya Iemon; Oiwa no bokon, 1848Kamiya Iemon; Oiwa no bokon, 1848

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Shrine Visit at the Hour of the Ox, 1853Shrine Visit at the Hour of the Ox, 1853

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - The Story of the Sailor Tokuzô (Funanori Tokuzô no den), from the series Fifty-three Pairings for the Tôkaidô Road, 1845-46The Story of the Sailor Tokuzô (Funanori Tokuzô no den), from the series Fifty-three Pairings for the Tôkaidô Road, 1845-46

"The vogue for full-body tattoos of interlaced characters, animals and fish, the full arms and backs that writhe with complex figures and designs can be directly traced not only in their drawing but in their conception to the Japanese woodblock artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi. It was he, whilst trying to establish a flagging career in the 1820’s in Edo (Tokyo) Japan, that conceived of decorating heroic, supernatural warriors with florid designs to emphasise their toughness and in some part to elaborate on their narrative.

Kuniyoshi was born Yoshisaburo and like Kunisada was apprenticed to the great woodblock artist Toyokuni I at his Utagawa School 1811. Kuniyoshi showed prodigious talent but unlike his colleague Kunisada failed to find commissions and it was not until the late1820’s that he discovered his own style and overnight success with the release of his series of warrior prints Tūszoku Suikoden gōketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori  - The 108 Heroes of the Popular Suikoden (1827). The novelty of these extraordinary, richly embellished and colourful single sheet prints made him successful and went on to heavily influence Japanese fashion and culture.

Kuniyoshi was quick to eclipse his rival Kunisada, at least artistically, and established his own workshop producing some of the finest and most inventive designs in the whole of Japanese art. His was an art of vigour, texture, decoration and mystery. Kuniyoshi not only established the mythological and the warrior print as a major genre, he went on to cover the vogue for portraits of beautiful women, animals, caricature and actor prints. He developed the triptych format of ukiyo print whereby a single element such as a gigantic fish or grappling warriors spill out of one sheet and into the other holding and sometimes bursting out of the cinematic format in distinction to the the previous static use of the form.

Not only one of the finest artists and designers that Japan has produced, Kuniyoshi was also highly intelligent, revelling in the elaborate construction of mitate-e or satire prints where the meaning of the subject is obscured or only alluded to by signs and symbols. This was necessary during the period of severe censorship known as the Tempo Reforms of 1841 - 1843 which halted the production of many woodblock artists." - quote source

More details on the life of Kuniyoshi can be found at Wikipedia.

Sources for the artworks include The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The British  Museum and the ukiyo-e archive.

A large selection of Utagawa Kuniyoshi's triptychs can be found in this recent post. 

2 comments:

Plague said...

Congrats!
Thanks for exposing me to stuff I never would have seen otherwise.

xredmenacex said...

Epic post!