Kuniyoshi - Miracle of Masterpieces

Utagawa Kuniyoshi

A well-known Kuniyoshi diptych called "Ukiyo Matabei meiga no kidoku" 浮世又平名画の奇特 (Miracle of Masterpieces by Floating-world Matabei). We see the kabuki actor Ichikawa Kodanji IV as the painter Iwasa Matabei, surrounded by his Otsu-e drawings of legendary characters which have come to life.

Iwasa Matabei (1578 – 1650) was a great painter of the Tosa School. Kuniyoshi portrays him in his studio. In front of him are his paintings of the Otsu-e characters, but only the silhouettes remain. Around him dance the Otsu-e characters come to life.

The monsters, demons and historical figures are in fact other actors. Reading from top right to left, they are: Asao Okuyama as Kaminari, Arashi Kangoro as Geiho, Nakamura Kantaro as Takajo the falconer, Sakata Sajuro as Fukurokuju, god of wisdom & longevity, Nakamura Aizo as Fuji Musume, the Wisteria girl, Ichikawa Hirogoro, Nakayama Bungoro as Saru, the monkey, Arashi Otohachi as an oni demon, and Nakayama Ichizo as Benkei.

Date: 1853

Condition: The left panel is in better condition than the right panel which has more dirt, some tears and repairs. (2 sheets not joined).

Publisher: Koshimuraya Heisuke 越村屋平助

Genre: Ukiyo-e

Medium: Woodblock Print

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/A_2008-3037-18217