Saru Gallery
       Japanese Prints & Japanese Paintings

Biography Kuniyoshi, Utagawa (1797 - 1861)

Though often mentioned in the same breath as Utagawa Kunisada (both star pupils of Utagawa Toyokuni I), Kuniyoshi was a very different sort of artist. He too made actor prints and bijin prints, but his landscape prints are more experimental and ambitious, since he was more susceptible to western influences. Especially his shunga prints (mainly ehon) are much more personal and intimate. His preliminary drawings are very interesting in that we clearly see how his imagination is guiding his brush. A genuine Kuniyoshi drawing has an undeniable "presence". Like his artistic rival Kunisada Kuniyoshi had many pupils. Yoshiiku followed his style closely, Yoshitoshi was as great an artist as his master, though his genius developed in completely different ways.