歌川国芳とは？江戸のポップアーティストとして世界を魅了する浮世絵師

Utagawa Kuniyoshi (Uta Gakushi) is known under various nicknames such as "Fantastic Ukiyo-e Master" and "Edo Pop Artist". What the hell is it? Introducing Kuniyoshi's works that cover a wide range of genres, including actors' paintings and beauty paintings, warriors, landscapes and caricatures, from three perspectives: "tech", "concept" and "humor". Over time, it captures the charm that sweeps the world.

Here is why Kuniyoshi's work attracts people.

"The skill" is great! Overwhelming power of art that nobody can imitate

Kuniyoshi masterpiece Utagawa Kuniyoshi "Oyama Ishi 尊辧瀧図" Bunsei 2 (1819) Around the large format picture picture three pieces gallery Akoya

Kuniyoshi who lived in the same period as world-famous Ukiyo-e artists such as Katsushika Hokusai and Utagawa Hiroshige. Among the many Ukiyoe painters in Edo, as well as the brothers and disciples of the first Utagawa Toyokuni who studied, the reason why I could leave my name to the future among the many Ukiyoe painters in Edo is the unmistakable certainty of drawing power and originality that can only be drawn to him Because there was Although Kuniyoshi specializes in spectacular motifs and compositions, in fact, the artist's art is blessed with detailed depictions such as large crowds.

Kuniyoshi masterpiece Utagawa Kuniyoshi "Sukifu 眷為すくすすすす」嘉 "Kanaga 4-5 (1851-1852) Around the large format picture three pieces Boston Museum of Art

It seems that the bright and bright colors like Kuniyoshi's character itself were the reason for popularity. For example, in the work where water was drawn, the texture of water was expressed with various blue colors. Formerly, plant-derived outcrop and persimmon have been used for the blue color, but at the Bunsei period (1818 to 1830), a chemical pigment called "Velo moth" (Plushan blue), which was born in the West, is distributed It will be. The blue expression using the new paint can also be seen in Kuniyoshi's work.

I'm surprised at the idea. Use of paper is revolutionary

In addition, works such as "Yoshinoyama Battle" in which height is expressed by using three vertically instead of three horizontally are presented.

Kuniyoshi masterpiece Utagawa Kuniyoshi "Omi country prostitute and temper" Tenpo early horizontal large format gallery Akaya

The weird idea was a manifestation of the service spirit of Kuniyoshi, who wanted to surprise and entertain the viewers.

Kuniyoshi masterpiece Utagawa Kuniyoshi "Yoshino mountain battle"

Also interestingly, Kuniyoshi is said to have collected hundreds of Western paintings (mainly copperplate prints), and he incorporated Western motifs into his work. The mysterious world view that Japan and the West unite can be said to be a symbol of Kuniyoshi's enterprising spirit.

Edokkos are also great for their "humor"!

Kuniyoshi masterpiece Utagawa Kuniyoshi "Missan to the 35 people in the body of the fourteen people who have been absentee", Tenpo 13 (1842)

Edokkos who loved the cool and uncanny laughter also sought humor in the Ukiyo-e. Caricatures and caricatures that involuntarily make a laugh are the true essence of Kuniyoshi. I made cats, sparrows, vegetables, etc. anthropomorphic, combined animal bodies to make letters, and surprised people with strange ideas.

Kuniyoshi masterpiece Utagawa Kuniyoshi "The Waste Book of Hakkoku-zaka Wall" (Yellow Wall) Hiroki 5 (1848)

In Tenpo's reform, the publication of Ukiyo-e was also banned, but Kuniyoshi transformed repression into the energy of creation and also produces an ironic masterpiece such as "The Lost Collection of the Treasured Wall".

Kuniyoshi masterpiece Utagawa Kuniyoshi "Oboro Tsuki no Sori" Hironization period Fan Fan picture Makie gallery Akaya

The tightening of the shogunate has made it impossible to draw prostitutes and actors, but he entrusts thoughts to animals and monsters and draws caricatures and caricatures that flew to wit, and people unravel the tricks set up there and laugh a lot The In addition, a new subject called "child" was born only because the things that can be drawn are limited. It was also around this time that "cute" pictures came to be presented one after another.