Artwork

The Strange Occurence of Ukiyo Matahei and his Famous Paintings

The Strange Occurence of Ukiyo Matahei and his Famous Paintings is a print by the Impressionist artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi. It dates from 1853 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

The Strange Occurence of Ukiyo Matahei and his Famous Paintings is a print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, dated 1853, held at The Cleveland Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts two contrasting scenes: a tumultuous gathering with a large figure in black holding a sign, and a more subdued scene featuring a violinist, a woman with a fan, and a wild figure in the background. The characters appear to be drawn from narrative sources.

Technique & Style

Kuniyoshi's composition combines everyday life with dramatic elements, utilizing bold outlines and simple forms. Bright colors such as red, blue, and black are set against lighter backgrounds, creating visual contrast.

Artist & collection

Artist

Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Kuniyoshi grew up in old Tokyo when the city was still called Edo. His dad ran a silk shop, but Kuniyoshi loved anything with pictures—scrolls, screens, comic books. He talked his way into the Utagawa school, a kind of…