Ukiyo-e Woodblock
by Kunichika (1835-1900)
Toyohara Kunichika was born in the Kyobashi
district of Tokyo in 1835. His original name
was Yasohachi Oshima, but he later took the
name of Kunichika which is based on the names
of his two teachers, the artists Kunisada and
Chikanobu.
Kunichika is one of the last and best known
of the Ukiyo-e artists, the artists of who documented
the life of samurai, actors, and geishas of
the "Floating World." He worked during
the Edo period.
Kunichika was particularly known for his images
of tough but cool actors and samurai. Today
tatoo images based on his woodblocks of exaggeratedly
masculine figures remain a favorite choice of
underworld gang members.
