Utagawa Kuniyoshi, master of warriors and monsters
A pupil of Utagawa Toyokuni I, Kuniyoshi struggled for years before his breakthrough in the late 1820s with a series of heroes from the Chinese novel Suikoden, whose tattooed warriors still inspire Japanese tattoo art today. He became the great master of warrior prints, but his curiosity knew no limits: ghosts, legends, kabuki, satire, animals dressed as humans. His bold compositions, often spread across three sheets, and his sense of humour make him one of the most modern artists of the Edo period.
Japanese cat prints: Kuniyoshi’s cats
Kuniyoshi adored cats and kept many in his studio, and they appear everywhere in his work. In The Ghost Cat, a giant cat face looms over a haunted scene, while The Cat Witch of Okabe shows a monster cat and two cats dancing with towels on their heads. A Japanese cat print is the perfect gift for any cat lover, and a playful touch in a reading corner or a bedroom.
Yokai, ghosts and skeletons
Kuniyoshi drew some of the most spectacular monsters of Japanese art. His Skeleton Spectre, a huge skeleton leaning over two samurai in a ruined palace, is one of the most famous Japanese prints ever made. In The Sailor Tokuzō and the Umibōzu, a giant black sea monk rises from the waves. Discover more creatures in our yokai art print collection and our guide to Japanese yokai.
Kabuki and animal parodies
Kabuki actors were the stars of Edo, and Kuniyoshi portrayed them with flair, like the glaring actor of Kabuki Actor on a Folding Fan. He also loved to parody them: in Famous Heroes of the Kabuki Stage Played by Frogs, a troupe of frogs and toads acts out the great roles of the theatre, swords drawn. These witty Japanese frog prints bring humour to a living room, a hallway or a child’s room.
Decorating with Kuniyoshi prints
Deep Prussian blue, black and bold reds dominate Kuniyoshi’s prints: they stand out beautifully on a white or pale wall and suit both Japandi and more eclectic interiors. A thin black or natural wood frame keeps the spirit of the original prints. His large scenes make striking statement pieces above a sofa or a bed, while smaller designs work well in pairs or as part of a Japanese gallery wall with other ukiyo-e prints.
The heirs of Kuniyoshi
Kuniyoshi trained many artists. His most famous pupil, Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, carried his love of warriors and the supernatural into the Meiji era with prints like Minamoto and the Earth Spider and The Cry of the Fox. As a child, Kawanabe Kyōsai also spent time in his studio before becoming a master of demons, as in The Long-Tailed Demon.
