Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861), one of the last great artists of the Edo period (1600–1868), is chiefly remembered for his skilfully drawn, action-packed warrior prints and wildly funny comic images. In fact, he was prepared to take on any subject, and he is widely admired for this versatility and his highly original, often eccentric, imagination.
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Kuniyoshi had strong connections with the Kabuki theatres of Edo (modern-day Tokyo), which were the most popular amusement in town, and there was a constant demand for actor prints – pin-ups of the leading actors of the day. However, it was not always easy to meet this demand. Edo Japan was ruled by a military dictator, the shogun, and the government always kept strict control over popular printed materials. During the Tenpō reforms of 1841–43 the making of actor prints was forbidden. Kuniyoshi used his ingenuity to get round the regulations: instead of full-colour single portrait prints, he designed a series of sophisticated graffiti called 'Storehouse of Treasured Goods: Scribblings on the Wall' (of which the above print is an example); these images can even be seen as the precursors of modern manga. |
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A surreal image - a face composed of figures - reminiscent of Archimboldo and prefiguring surrealist Max Ernst. |
Very cool!
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