Saishin, from the series "Fashionable Women as the One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Water Margin (Fuzoku onna Suikoden, ippyakuhachinin no uchi)"
c. 1828/30
Medium
Color woodblock print; surimono
Dimensions
20.9 × 18.2 cm (8 1/4 × 7 3/16 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
81518
Art Historical Context
Behold *Saishin*, a color woodblock print by Utagawa Kuniy, from his innovative series *Fashionable Women as the One Hundred and Heroes of the Water MarginFuzoku onna Suikoden, ippyakuhachinin no u)*, created around 1828–30. Kuniyoshi, a master of the ukiyo-e tradition, reimagines the rugged bandit heroes from the classic Chinese *Water Margin* (Suikoden) as Edo-period women in contemporary kimonos and hairstyles. This playful parody blends epic adventure with the floating world's obsession with fashion, showcasing Kuniyoshi's flair for dynamic poses and whimsical storytelling. As a *surimono...
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...