Preview our SPRING 2026 catalog, featuring more than 500 new books on art, photography, design, architecture, film, music and visual culture.
BOOKSELLER TRADE ANNOTATION
Rival masters of the 19th Century woodblock print
ABOUT THE ARTISTS: Utagawa Kuniyoshi and Utagawa Kunisada of the Edo era were better known than HOKUSAI. Kuniyoshi (1797-1861) is best known for his prints of battles and Samurai soldiers. Hardly an inch of paper is empty. It's all about ACTION & HEROISM. Kunisada Utagawa (1786-1864) by contrast, was known for refined portraits of kabuki actors and luxurious geishas.It's all about THEATER & SENSUALITY.
ABOUT THE BOOK: Two artists prints examined in detail. Beautiful Reproductions.
PROMO: Accompanies exhibition at MFA Boston Showdown! Kuniyoshi vs. Kunisada, August 11, 2017 – December 10, 2017
Text by Sarah E. Thompson, Masato Matsushima, Akira Tsukahara, Chika Kagami, Kazushi Kuroda, Noriko Katsumori, Yuiko Miwa.
Rival ukiyo-e masters Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861) and Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1865) were the two most admired designers of figure prints in 19th-century Japan.
Famous for the realism of his portraits of Kabuki actors, the sensuality of his beautiful women and the luxurious settings he imagined for historical scenes, Kunisada was the popular favorite during his lifetime. Kuniyoshi is loved by connoisseurs and collectors today for his dynamic action scenes of warriors and monsters (which foreshadowed present-day manga and anime), his comic prints and even a few especially daring works that included forbidden political satire in disguise. With glorious full-color illustrations, this beautifully produced volume presents Kuniyoshi and Kunisada’s artistic rivalry through a selection of outstanding works from the unparalleled Japanese art collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
Featured image is reproduced from 'Kuniyoshi X Kunisada.'
FORMAT: Hbk, 10.75 x 9.25 in. / 256 pgs / 130 color. LIST PRICE: U.S. $50.00 LIST PRICE: CANADA $67.5 GBP £35.00 ISBN: 9780878468478 PUBLISHER: MFA Publications, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston AVAILABLE: 10/24/2017 DISTRIBUTION: D.A.P. RETAILER DISC: TRADE PUBLISHING STATUS: Out of print AVAILABILITY: Not available TERRITORY: WORLD
Published by MFA Publications, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Text by Sarah E. Thompson, Masato Matsushima, Akira Tsukahara, Chika Kagami, Kazushi Kuroda, Noriko Katsumori, Yuiko Miwa.
Rival ukiyo-e masters Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861) and Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1865) were the two most admired designers of figure prints in 19th-century Japan.
Famous for the realism of his portraits of Kabuki actors, the sensuality of his beautiful women and the luxurious settings he imagined for historical scenes, Kunisada was the popular favorite during his lifetime. Kuniyoshi is loved by connoisseurs and collectors today for his dynamic action scenes of warriors and monsters (which foreshadowed present-day manga and anime), his comic prints and even a few especially daring works that included forbidden political satire in disguise. With glorious full-color illustrations, this beautifully produced volume presents Kuniyoshi and Kunisada’s artistic rivalry through a selection of outstanding works from the unparalleled Japanese art collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
