Utagawa Kuniyasu

Place: Edo

Born: 1794

Death: 1832

Biography:

Utagawa Kuniyasu, also known as Toyokuni II, was a prominent Japanese artist who specialized in ukiyo-e, a genre of art that flourished during the Edo period (1603-1868). Born in 1794 in Edo, Japan, Kuniyasu's earliest surviving work is his illustrations to the book Hanashi no momochidori (噺の百千鳥). He illustrated about a hundred books throughout his career and designed hundreds of stand-alone prints of beauties (bijin-ga) and actors (yakusha-e).

Ukiyo-e Art Movement

The ukiyo-e art movement, which translates to 'picture[s] of the floating world', emerged in 17th century Edo. This genre of Japanese art flourished from the 17th through 19th centuries and is renowned for its woodblock prints and paintings depicting various subjects such as female beauties, kabuki actors, sumo wrestlers, historical scenes, folk tales, travel landscapes, flora, fauna, and erotica.

Artistic Style and Techniques

Kuniyasu's work is characterized by his use of multiple woodblocks to print areas of color. He was a skilled artist who rarely carved his own woodblocks for printing; rather, production was divided between the artist, who designed the prints, the carver, who cut the woodblocks, the printer, who inked and pressed the woodblocks onto handmade paper, and the publisher, who financed, promoted, and distributed the works.

Notable Works

Some of Kuniyasu's notable works include his illustrations to Hanashi no momochidori (噺の百千鳥) and his designs for stand-alone prints of beauties (bijin-ga) and actors (yakusha-e). His work can be found in the permanent collections of several museums worldwide, including the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the Weatherspoon Art Museum, the British Museum, the University of Michigan Museum of Art, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

• Ukiyo-e was central to forming the West's perception of Japanese art in the late 19th century, particularly the landscapes of Hokusai.
• Kuniyasu also used the art names Ippōsai and Nishikawa Yasunobu.
• His work is held in the permanent collections of several museums worldwide, including the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the Weatherspoon Art Museum, the British Museum, the University of Michigan Museum of Art, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
• For more information on Kuniyasu's work, visit Utagawa Kuniyasu or explore the ukiyo-e art movement at The Ukiyo-e Art Movement.

Legacy

Kuniyasu's legacy as a prominent Japanese artist of ukiyo-e continues to be celebrated through his work, which can be found in museums and private collections around the world. His contributions to the ukiyo-e art movement have had a lasting impact on Japanese art and culture. To learn more about Kuniyasu and other artists, visit Wikioo.org, which offers high-quality reproductions of famous artworks, including those by Utagawa Kuniyasu.