Kuniyoshi (1797 - 1861 )
The son of silk dyer, Kuniyoshi Utagawa was born into the Igusa family in Edo. Little is known about his very early years, though he is said to have shown remarkable talent from a young age. Kuniyoshi began his ukiyo-e career as a pupil of Shunei. At age 14 he was accepted to study the art of woodblock printing under Toyokuni I and, in time, would become one of his most successful students. In 1814, he left Toyokuni’s studio to pursue a career as an independent ukiyo-e artist. Initially, he had little success, selling tatami mats in order to support himself. However, his fortunes changed in 1827 with his dramatic series 108 Heroes of the Suikoden. From that point forward, the public hungered for his portrayals of famous samurai and legendary heroes. Kuniyoshi Utagawa worked across all genres, producing some brilliant landscapes and charming bijin-ga (pictures of beautiful women). He died in the spring of 1861 from complications of a stroke.
In direct contrast to the peaceful views of a scenic Japan provided by Hiroshige and Hokusai, the following decades saw a rise of the fierce, fearsome and fantastical in ukiyo-e. Kuniyoshi welcomed this changing public taste. He had a ravenous imagination and the full scope of his work reveals an aesthetic sensibility capable of capturing almost any experience. No doubt, however, his particular genius felt most at home in the world of martial glory, where epic battles decided the fate of empires and fierce warriors clashed to the death. Kuniyoshi's Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock prints were so popular in his time that he received requests for tattoo designs.
Ronin Annex | Art & Gifts
Uncover affordable art prints and great values in fine East Asian art from the 18th-21st century in Ronin Annex. From original ukiyo-e woodblock prints and modern reprints, to out-of-print books and conservation supplies, everything in this collection is priced under $500. Unyieldingly beautiful and forever unique, these pieces are perfectly suited for both the new collector and the longtime connoisseur. With over 1000 works of art priced under $500, let Ronin Annex help you find a meaningful gift, decorate your home, protect your collection, and craft your library.
66 Products
Kuniyoshi
Nihonbashi: Ashikaga Yorikane, Narukami Katsunosuke, and Ukiyo Tohei
JPR-210702
Kuniyoshi
Moriyama: Zen Master Bodhidharma (Daruma)
JPR-210701
Kuniyoshi
Itabashi: Inuzuka Shino with Hikiroku, Samojiro and Dotaro
JP-210646
Kuniyoshi
Poem by Ise no Daifu: Yatahei and Kokonoe-tayu
JPR-88900
Kuniyoshi
Nakamura Utaemon IV as Fortune Teller Sangokuken
JPR-209081
Kuniyoshi
Characters of The Tale of the Soga Brothers in the Guise of the Seven Lucky Gods
JP-209826
Kuniyoshi
Kabuki Actor Nakamura Shikan II as Shiratayu in Farewell Perfomance in the 9th Month of 1833
JP-209821
Kuniyoshi
Kabuki Actor Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Doguya Jinzo
JP-209775