#utagawakuniyoshi — Public Fediverse posts

Experience the serene beauty of "De Onmaya rivieroever" by Utagawa Kuniyoshi. This stunning piece captures the essence of nature's tranquility in delicate brushstrokes. What emotions does it evoke for you?

#Rijksmuseum #UtagawaKuniyoshi #ArtDiscussion
https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/nl/collectie/RP-P-1967-932

"Famous Heroes of the Kabuki Stage Played by Frogs," Utagawa Kuniyoshi, c. 1875.

Utagawa was sometimes dissatisfied and disaffected with the shogunate in Japan, which led him to create some stunning works of caricature, which can be seen here. Here we have an assortment of scenes from various kabuki plays, all apparently dealing with dramatic deeds by samurai...only with frogs.

These were the days of the Tenpō Reforms, which cracked down on entertainment and banned luxury goods. Kabuki actors were required to wear hats outside lest they be too conspicuous, and the content of ukiyo-e art and popular literature was regulated.

The censorship had the unintended consequence of forcing Utagawa to be very creative and sneaky with his material. Caricature such as this was a veiled criticism of the shogunate, and while it technically evaded the censors, the public ate it up, along with other caricatures he did.

So we can add Utagawa to the Caricature Hall of Fame, with Goya and Daumier!

Interestingly, this print is commonly dated to c. 1875, but Utagawa died in 1861, so I assume this was a design he put together that was printed posthumously.

From the Library of Congress, Washington, DC

#Art #JapaneseArt #AsianArt #ukiyo_e #Caricature #Frogs #Kabuki #Ribbit #UtagawaKuniyoshi

"Woman with Cat on the Table," Utagawa Kuniyoshi, 1832.

Utagawa (1798-1861) was the last great master of ukiyo-e, and had many subjects in his life...including women, landscapes, Kabuki actors, mythical scenes, and great heroic samurai. However, no matter what, he seems to have been fond of cats, as they show up in many of his works.

Here, the woman is lounging on what is probably a cold evening, with a book and a pipe, and her legs under a kotatsu, a low open wooden frame covered by a cloth and with a heat source underneath. The cat seems annoyed, though; he's arching his back and hissing, and her expression seems to say, "What's your problem?"

Got cold nights comin'! I may have to put a quilt on my bed this weekend...

From the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

#Art #AsianArt #JapaneseArt #ukiyo_e #CatsOfMastodon #UtagawaKuniyoshi

Exploring the delicate strokes in Utagawa Kuniyoshi's "Binshiken veegt de sneeuw aan", #Rijksmuseum. The lines capture the quiet task with a sense of Zen. Do you feel the calmness?
#ArtLovers #JapaneseArt #UtagawaKuniyoshi #Rijks
https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/nl/collectie/RP-P-1996-334

Marveling at Utagawa Kuniyoshi's timeless masterpiece 'De Onmaya rivieroever' at #Rijksmuseum. Drenched in vibrant colors, it brings 1832-1836 back to life. What's your favorite part?
#ArtLovers #UtagawaKuniyoshi #Rijksm
https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/nl/collectie/RP-P-1967-932

Part of a woodblock triptych by Japanese artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi, the image below depicts the samurai Mitsukuni battling a yokai known as The Gashadokuro. This giant skeleton specter, which was composed of the bones from an army of dead soldiers, had been summoned by Princess Takiyasha to help avenge the death of her father.

#MythologyMonday #Mythology #Folklore #Japan #Art #UtagawaKuniyoshi #yokai #Skeleton #Gashadokuro

Title: Cats Suggested as the Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido

Artist: Utagawa Kuniyoshi

#UtagawaKuniyoshi #Kuniyoshi #Ukiyoe #Tokaido #Cats #Caturday #Art