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Sketches of seven Japanese actors from the chest up, all looking to the left. Some look grave and others wear a wry smile. The bottom fifth of the sheet is gray with Japanese characters written in white.
Utagawa Kuniyoshi 歌川国芳, Scribblings on the storehouse wall (荷宝蔵壁のむだ書 Nitakaragura kabe no mudagaki), Edo Period. Gift of Roger S. Keyes and Elizabeth Coombs

The Artistry of Utagawa Kuniyoshi

October 7, 2023 - April 28, 2024
Sketches of seven Japanese actors from the chest up, all looking to the left. Some look grave and others wear a wry smile. The bottom fifth of the sheet is gray with Japanese characters written in white.
Utagawa Kuniyoshi 歌川国芳, Scribblings on the storehouse wall (荷宝蔵壁のむだ書 Nitakaragura kabe no mudagaki), Edo Period. Gift of Roger S. Keyes and Elizabeth Coombs

Introduction

One of the most influential Japanese printmakers of the 1800s, Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861) was born to a cloth dyer in Edo, Japan. As a child, he often copied illustrations from books. When he was just 15, his talent was recognized by the print designer Utagawa Toyokuni (1769–1825), who accepted Kuniyoshi into his studio.

Kuniyoshi began his career illustrating cheaply produced multi-volume novels known as gōkan 合巻, which were very popular in the early 1800s. He received his big break when he began designing warrior prints, creating images of legendary and historical Chinese and Japanese heroes in dynamic poses and expressive forms. Kuniyoshi proved equally adept at designing portraits of Kabuki actors and beautiful women. He also became known for his caricatures and humorous illustrations—an avenue for his wit, especially in times of strict censorship. 

By the time of his death, Kuniyoshi had established a studio filled with students and apprentices. Successful print designers of the time often worked under similar arrangements, with assistants helping meet the demand for prints and students ensuring the legacy of the designer’s name. Kuniyoshi’s students learned by watching and working with him, and many compiled sketchbooks like the one on view here. 

This exhibition is dedicated to Elena Varshavskaya (1952–2023), a RISD faculty member (THAD) who spent her lifetime sharing her passion and love for Japanese ukiyo-e prints through teaching, presentations, and publications. 

Wai Yee Chiong, curator, Asian art

RISD Museum is supported by a grant from the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, through an appropriation by the Rhode Island General Assembly and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, and with the generous partnership of the Rhode Island School of Design, its Board of Trustees, and Museum Governors.

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January 28, 2024 / 2-4 pm
Sketches of seven Japanese actors from the chest up, all looking to the left. Some look grave and others wear a wry smile. The bottom fifth of the sheet is gray with Japanese characters written in white.

The Artistry of Utagawa Kuniyoshi

October 7, 2023 - April 7, 2024

Related Objects

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Utagawa Kuniyoshi 歌川国芳

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Utagawa Kuniyoshi 歌川国芳

Plum Trees at Night (夜の梅 Yoru no ume), Edo Period
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Utagawa Kuniyoshi 歌川国芳

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Utagawa Kuniyoshi 歌川国芳

Colorful Peonies and Lion Dogs (深見草獅子彩色 Fukamigusa shishi no irodori), Edo Period
Intricate, monochrome, Japanese woodblock print capturing a chaotic battle scene with samurai, horses, and a background of trees and architecture. Calligraphy is dispersed throughout the complex image.

Utagawa Kuniyoshi 歌川国芳

Proof Impression of Vengence at Iga Pass (伊賀越敵討図 Igagoe kataki-uchi no zu), Edo Period
Sketches of seven Japanese actors from the chest up, all looking to the left. Some look grave and others wear a wry smile. The bottom fifth of the sheet is gray with Japanese characters written in white.

Utagawa Kuniyoshi 歌川国芳

Scribblings on the storehouse wall (荷宝蔵壁のむだ書 Nitakaragura kabe no mudagaki), Edo Period
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The Artistry of Utagawa Kuniyoshi

October 7, 2023 - April 28, 2024
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