Artwork Page for The Strange Occurrence of Ukiyo Matahei and his Famous Paintings

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The Strange Occurrence of Ukiyo Matahei and his Famous Paintings

1853

Utagawa Kuniyoshi 歌川 国芳

(Japanese, 1797–1861)
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Culture
Japan, Edo period (1615–1868)
Medium
diptych, color woodblock prints
Measurements
Overall: 37.8 x 26.4 cm (14 7/8 x 10 3/8 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Wade 1916.1160.b
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
Print

Description

In this image, otsu-e folk heroes have seemingly come to life, leaving their shadowy figures in the paintings in front of the artist. Included among them are a demon (oni), a monkey, the wisteria maiden, and the bald, tall-headed God of Longevity, Fukurokuju. Ukiyo Matahei, also known as Iwasa Matabei, was a famous printmaker who is also thought to have been a painter of otsu-e.
A vertically oriented color woodblock print depicts a man with a light skin tone wearing a blue and red robe, sitting on a floral rug and holding a paintbrush. He looks upward toward figures floating in the air, including a person in a patterned black robe with a bird. An elderly man with a white beard holds a fan, while horned demons emerge from dark clouds. Red vertical text panels border the right side.

The Strange Occurrence of Ukiyo Matahei and his Famous Paintings

1853

Utagawa Kuniyoshi

(Japanese, 1797–1861)
Japan, Edo period (1615–1868)

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