c. 1847-52 (Koka 4-Kaei 5)／Color woodblock print on paper
SUMMARY
A kind of caricature called yose-e (“piled-up pictures”), this unique and elaborate piece combines various figures to create everything from the person’s eyes, nose and mouth to the eyebrows and even his topknot (probably his body beneath the kimono as well!). The Western painter Arcimboldo used fruits and vegetables to express the human body in the same fashion, but the relationship between the two is unclear. A connection to Kamakura period military commander Asahina Yoshihide is also rumored due to the pattern on the kimono.
ARTIST
Utagawa Kuniyoshi
1797-1861
Attracted the attention of Utagawa Toyokuni I with his drawing of Zhong Kui (Shoki) at age twelve, and soon became a disciple of Toyokuni’s. He fell on hard times in his 20s, but at 31 published One hundred and eight heroes of the popular Suikoden. This gained him popularity, and he came to be called “Warrior Print Kuniyoshi”. He did everything well, from actors and beautiful women to landscapes, but in particular, his triptych panoramas of warriors or historical scenes as well as his witty caricatures snatched the hearts of the general public. He gathered many excellent pupils with his natural leadership, including Ochiai Yoshiiku, Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, and Kawanabe Kyosai.
List of artworks by the same artist
INFORMATION
Saturday, January 27 - Sunday, March 17, 2024
Adventures in Visual Perception – The Art of Crossing Boundaries Takasaki Museum of Art (Gunma, Japan)
Friday, October 8 - Sunday, November 14, 2021
From the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum Collection: “THIS IS JAPAN” Eternal Japanese Art Oita Art Museum (Oita, Japan)
Sunday, August 25 - Sunday, September 29, 2019
This Is Japan In Kyoto From The Tokyo Fuji Art Museum Collection The Museum of Kyoto (Kyoto, Japan)
Saturday, March 24 - Sunday, May 27, 2018
OEDO EXHIBITION NAGASAKI Nagasaki Prefectual Art Museum (Nagasaki, Japan)
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