Kuniyoshi moyo shofuda tsuke genkin otoko

About this artwork

Aankoop uit het F.G. Waller-Fonds

Art Historical Context

This striking nishiki-e print from 1846 was created by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, one of the most inventive masters of the ukiyo-e tradition. Nishiki-e, or “brocade pictures,” represented the pinnacle of Japanese woodblock printing, using multiple carved blocks to achieve vibrant colors and intricate details on a single sheet. At 366 by 254 millimeters, the work’s compact format was ideal for the popular single-sheet prints that circulated widely among Edo-period audiences. Kuniyoshi’s dynamic style often blended bold compositions with themes from history, theater, and folklore. Produced during Japan...

About the Artist

Utagawa Kuniyoshi · 1797–1861

Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861) was born in Edo to the silk-dyer Yanagiya Kichiyemon, originally bearing the childhood name Yoshisaburō. From a young age, he assisted in his family's pattern design work, which sharpened his innate mastery of color and textile motifs that would permeate his later prints. At around twelve years old, his prodigious drawing skills drew the attention of the renowned Utag...