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Warriors and legendary encounters

The collection includes heroes of the Suikoden, combat scenes and figures confronting extraordinary creatures. In Tenjiku Tokubei Riding a Giant Toad, the patterned body of the animal becomes part of the forceful arrangement of the figure and surrounding forms. Related designs combine human action with waves, animals and supernatural presences.

The skeleton spectre and the supernatural

Takiyasha the Witch and the Skeleton Spectre stretches a vast skeleton across a dark interior, bringing its bones into dramatic contrast with the figures below. This is one route into Kuniyoshi’s imaginative treatment of scale and narrative. Explore the wider witches and witchcraft collection for supernatural subjects across different artists and traditions.

Kabuki, humour and transformed figures

Kabuki Stage Heroes as Frogs offers a playful counterpart to the warrior subjects. Actor designs and theatrical scenes elsewhere in the collection place costume, gesture and character at the centre of the image. For further Japanese theatre subjects, explore Utagawa Kunisada; for other inventive figure and animal designs, browse Kawanabe Kyōsai.

Related artists and collections

Compare the narrative drama with Tsukioka Yoshitoshi and explore another range of ukiyo-e subjects through Katsushika Hokusai. Our Japanese art collection and warrior, kabuki and mythology selection provide further routes through these related designs.

Read more in our guide to Utagawa Kuniyoshi.