Who painted The Giant Octopus and Others?

The Giant Octopus and Others was painted by Utagawa (Gountei) Sadahide in 1837.

Where can I see The Giant Octopus and Others?

The Giant Octopus and Others is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is The Giant Octopus and Others?

The Giant Octopus and Others is associated with Romanticism.

Can I buy a print of The Giant Octopus and Others?

Museum-quality prints of The Giant Octopus and Others are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

The Giant Octopus and Others

Utagawa (Gountei) Sadahide , 1837

The Giant Octopus and Others is a paint painting by the Romanticist artist Utagawa (Gountei) Sadahide. It dates from 1837 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

The sheet is a finished design intended for a woodblock print, populated with a series of fantastical creatures rendered from two opposite viewpoints. Each monster appears twice, front and back, allowing the two images to be cut out, joined back‑to‑back, and used as a simple toy. The rarity of surviving examples reflects the fact that most were dismantled for play.

Subject & Meaning

The work depicts a variety of Japanese mythic beings—an octopus with exaggerated eyes, a smiling skeleton, a coiled dragon—each presented in duplicate. The playful presentation aligns with the Japanese concept of *bakemono*, literally “things that change,” emphasizing transformation and humor rather than terror.

Technique & Style

Executed in line drawing typical of Edo‑period print design, the figures are outlined with clear, bold strokes that mirror each other in reverse. The composition is dense, filling the paper surface, and the visual humor is conveyed through exaggerated facial expressions and exaggerated proportions.

History & Provenance

Attributed to the artist Sadahide, the sheet belongs to a limited group of print designs meant for cut‑and‑paste toys. Because the intended use involved cutting and gluing, few intact sheets have survived, making extant copies valuable for study of both print culture and popular entertainment in Edo Japan.

Context

During the Edo period, printed ephemera often served dual purposes as decorative art and as amusement objects for a broad audience. The dual‑sided monster motif reflects contemporary tastes for novelty, wordplay, and the visual pun inherent in the term *bakemono*.

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Artist & collection

Artist

Utagawa (Gountei) Sadahide

Utagawa Sadahide , also known as Gountei Sadahide, was a Japanese artist best known for his prints in the ukiyo-e style as a member of the Utagawa school.