Kuniyoshi was a master of the warrior woodblock print — and these 18th-century illustrations represent the pinnacle of his craft. Full-color portraits of renowned Japanese samurais pulse with movement, passion, and remarkably fine detail.

One of the last great names in the Japanese ukiyo-e style, Kuniyoshi was an undisputed master of the warrior woodblock print — and these 18th-century illustrations represent the pinnacle of his craft. One hundred and one full-color portraits of renowned Japanese samurais pulse with movement, passion, and remarkably fine detail. Includes brief captions and a new introduction.

This vibrant compilation features more than 100 hard-to-find examples of works by a noted Japanese woodblock artist including depictions of heavily armored samurai, battle scenes, and well-defended fortresses. Drawn from a series of volumes originally published in 1862, the dynamic images offer authentic views of warrior life during the Edo period.Dover Original.

Heroes, villains, and damsels in distress abound in these richly colored, dramatic images from the Japanese equivalent of dime-store novels. These illustrations were selected from woodblock-printed covers and frontispiece illustrations from 64 popular books published in Osaka from 1898 through 1903. They include samurai and strong men, demons and detectives, courtesans, sumo wrestlers, and other vivid characters in scenarios ranging from romantic to grotesquely violent. Printed in the color woodblock method in use since the late eighteenth century, they provide a link between an ancient storytelling tradition and the beginning of mass-published popular literature. Created during the Meiji era (1868–1912), when Japanese society was changing dramatically with the influx of Western technology and values, these images appealed to a wide audience of newly literate readers. Their scenes of retribution and sacrifice reflect a modern consciousness of Japanese history and a longing for an idealized vision of the past, marked by traditional values of loyalty, filial piety, self-sacrifice, and chivalry. Long considered a disposable form of popular culture, these books were not carefully preserved or collected. This collection, assembled by an expert on Japanese art, offers a rare glimpse of a newly rediscovered art form.

Painstakingly researched, 30 accurate, detailed illustrations depict the samurai and the tools of their trade: koshozan helmets, armor of metal and leather, su-yari spears, a wall-gun, and other weaponry used on horseback, at sea, and in training.

Colorists of all ages will appreciate these graceful courtesans, mountainous landscapes, and other images from the woodblock tradition. Thirty meticulous renderings include masterly works by Kunisada, Hiroshige, Utamaro, Eisen, and Toyokuni.

This sumptuously produced monograph showcases the work of Utagawa Kuniyoshi, one of the last great Japanese masters of ukiyo-e prints, illustrations, and paintings. Best known for his depictions of fierce samurai warriors in battle, Utagawa Kuniyoshi also produced landscapes, portraits of Kabuki actors, and images of mythical animals. His dynamic action scenes and fantastic creatures are recognized today as precursors of manga and anime. This dazzling volume by Matthi Forrer, one of the leading experts on ukiyo-e art, traces Kuniyoshi's entire career. Chapters look at the major aspects of Kuniyoshi's oeuvre; his book illustrations and portraits of fashionable women; his enormously popular series featuring actors, warriors, and landscapes; and the influence of Western art on his career. Meticulous, large-scale reproductions highlight the work's clear outlines, elegantly muted palette, and precise details--from electrifying depictions of a tiger, mid-pounce, and light-hearted interpretations of Chinese folktales, to the terrifying figures of samurai swordsmen and romantic winter landscapes. A Japanese-style binding and box complete this luxurious package that promises an endlessly absorbing journey into the life of Kuniyoshi during the latter days of Japan's Edo period.

This handsome volume explores the life and work of Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798-1861), one of Japan's greatest print artists. Alongside such illustrious names as Hokusai and Hiroshige, he dominated the 19th-century production of the popular genre of woodblock prints known as ukiyo-e, literally, "pictures of the floating world." The only major book to illustrate the entirety of the artist's work, Kuniyoshi explores his extraordinary imagination across an impressive range of subject matter, from his portraits of Japanese warrior heroes and fashionable beauties to his satirical themes and innovative landscape prints. Published to accompany a spectacular exhibition, Kuniyoshi is an essential reference for Japanese art collectors and enthusiasts.

"This extensively illustrated catalogue is published in conjunction with the first comprehensive exhibition devoted to the arts of the samurai, including the finest examples of swords - the spirit of the samurai - as well as sword mountings and fittings, armor and helmets, saddles, textiles, and paintings. The works in the catalogue, drawn from public and private collections in Japan, include 34 officially designated National Treasures and 64 Important Cultural Properties, the largest number ever to be shown together at one time. Dating from the 5th to the early 20th century, these majestic objects offer a complete picture of samurai culture and its unique blend of the martial and the refined." "Many of the greatest Japanese swordsmiths are represented in this volume, from early masters such as Yasuie (12th century) and Tomomitsu (14th century) to the Edo-period smiths Nagasone Kotetsu and Kiyomaro. The blades by these and other masters, cherished as much for their beauty as for their cutting efficiency, were equipped with elaborate hilts and scabbards prized for their exquisite craftsmanship and fine materials such as silk, rayskin, gold, lacquer, and certain alloys unique to Japan. Japanese armor is also fully surveyed, from the rarest iron armor of the Kofun period (5th century) to the inventive ceremonial helmets made toward the end of the age of the samurai." --Book Jacket.

This edition of Yoshitoshi's 100 Dogs of War contains not only Yoshitoshi's full set of 65 completed battle prints, reproduced in full-size and full-colour, but also several fascinating preparatory drawings for unfinished designs. -- provided by publisher.