Japanese Woodblock Master Kuniyoshi's Tattooed Suikoden Heroes

Introduction  Kuniyoshi's outstanding contribution to Japanese
In his early years (the age of 7) Utagawaart is also to be found in his warrior triptychs. The
Kuniyoshi (1797-1861) was already fascinated bydesigns for these triptychs were so distinctive
pictures of warriors and kabuki actors. At the agebecause of his use of masses of black. The
of 14 he became a member of the successfulthree seperate sheets display a clear and
Utagawa school and was one of the manydramatic untiy and show a broad appreciation of
talented students under master Utagawathe possibilities of this format rarely found by
Toyokuni I. After an initial laborious start withKuniyoshi's predecessors. The individual sheets of
modest successes he rediscovered the subject ofthe triptychs by, for instance, Kiyonaga and
the Suikoden Heroes and his first fewUtamaro can also be appreciated as isolated
prints became an instant commercial success.  images but in Kuniyoshi's finest work the sheets
 are inseperable if the force of the composition is
Suikoden Heroes  to be experienced.    
Kuniyoshi's preference for heroic subjects andInfluence  
themes can be traced already in the earliestWhen Kuniyoshi became a master himself he
period of his career. At first his warrior designstrained a large number of pupils such as Yoshitora,
are very similar in style to that of Shuntei (whoYoshimori, Yoshitsuya, Yoshiiku and Yoshikazu.
was also famous for his sumo prints) but it wasThey all worked in a similar style and tradition as
the Suikoden -series that Kuniyoshi broke freeKuniyoshi designing triptychs not unworthy of their
from this influence. His Suikoden prints (known asmaster. But it was his most talented student
the '108 Heroes of the Suikoden') in the obanYoshitoshi who developed a unique individual
format were inspired on the adaptation of theWestern orientated style on the same level as his
author Takizawa Bakin of a comprehensiveteacher. Yoshitoshi also designed a series on the
Chinese heroic novel Shui ho-ch'uan (in Japanese:Suikoden Heroes consisting of 50 chuban prints
Suikoden) written in the 14th Century, in thewhich are darker in tone and have a more
West known as The Water Margin, telling theominous atmosphere. Kuniyoshi's Suikoden
story of a gang of desperadoes in the 12thdesigns also had a defining influence on the
Century. These bandits lived in the swamps nearfashion of body tattoos in Japan.     
the mountain of Liangshan. Their leader was theUkiyo-e Artists 
fearless Song Jiang and the clan was like aTorii Kiyonaga (1752-1815), Takizawa Bakin
bloodthirsty "A -Team" fighting against injustice(1767-1848), Katsukawa Shuntei (1770-1820),
and for the rights of the common people.   Kitagawa Utamaro (1753-1806), Katsukawa
Although Kuniyoshi was not the first Ukiyo-e artistHokusai (1760-1849), Utagawa Toyokuni I
who worked on this subject, the great(1769-1825), Utagawa Yoshitora (act. 1850-1880),
Hokusai illustrated the book Shinpen SuikogadenUtagawa Yoshimori (1830-1884), Utagawa
(New Illustrated Edition of the Suikoden) in 1805,Yoshitsuya (1822-1866), Utagawa Yoshiiku
his innovative interpretation exceeded that of his(1833-1904), Utagawa Yoshikazu (act. ca.
predecessor. He depicted these Chinese 'heroes'1850-1870), Tsukioka
giving the images some kind of supernaturalYoshitoshi (1839-1892).    
radiation placing the figures in an
ultra-dynamic setting. The often tattooedBooks on Kuniyoshi 
protagonists with their forceful appearance and'Kuniyoshi, the Warrior Prints' by B.W. Robinson
frightful weaponry were embraced by the public'Of Brigands and Bravery-Kuniyoshi's Heroes of
urging Kuniyoshi to add more designs (overthe Suikoden' by I. Klompmakers
seventy!). Later more series on the Suikoden'Heroes and Ghosts: Japanese Prints by Kuniyoshi
subject were added including one in the smaller1797-1861' by R.Schaap & Timothy T. Clark
chuban format.    & M.
Triptychs