Miguel Ángel Gutiérrez - Collector

For more than 16 years, Miguel Ángel Gutiérrez has been collecting Japanese woodblock prints, drawn especially to their beauty and their ability to tell stories through images. His interests range widely across ukiyo-e, Meiji-period prints, shin hanga, and modern woodblock artists, but a common thread runs throughout his collection: a fascination with the myths, legends, history, and dramatic characters of Japan.

Who are your favorite artists?

My favorite artists span several generations of Japanese printmaking. They include Utagawa Kunisada, Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Utagawa Yoshikazu, Ogata Gekkō, Toyohara Chikanobu, Yamamura Toyonari, Natori Shunsen, Tadamasa Ueno, Ōta Masamitsu, Tsuruya Kōkei, and Paul Jacoulet.

What appeals to you about collecting Japanese woodblock prints?

I am drawn to the beauty of the imagery and, in particular, the way these prints allow us to visually explore the myths, legends, and history of Japan.

Any advice for novice collectors?

Passion and patience.

Three Favorite Prints

Kobayashi Kiyochika — Taira no Tadamori, 1877
A dramatic triptych depicting the legendary Heian-period warrior Taira no Tadamori.

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi — The Demon of Rashōmon, 1889
From Yoshitoshi's celebrated series New Forms of Thirty-Six Ghosts.

Kawase Hasui — Spring Moon at Ninomiya Beach, 1932
A tranquil shin hanga landscape capturing moonlight over the beach at Ninomiya.