Utagawa Kuniyoshi
Japanese, 1798-1861

Kabuki Actor Ichikawa Danjūrō VIII as Jiraiya (center) with a Monster Toad, 1852
color woodblock print; triptych
14 × 9 3/4 in. 14 × 9 5/8 in. 14 × 9 3/4 in.

SBMA, Gift of the Frederick B. Kellam collection
1971.3.76a-c



Utagawa Yoshiiku - Memorial portrait of the artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi, 1861, color woodblock print

COMMENTS

Mythological stories have been popular in Japanese culture for centuries as seen in this print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi: one of the last great ukiyo-e, or “floating-world pictures” artists. He produced single-sheet prints and illustrated books covering a wide range of subjects. This triptych print depicts a fierce battle between mythical samurai heroes. Jiraiya, played by Kabuki actor Ichikawa Danjfiro VIII, uses magic to conjure a giant toad to battle his arch-enemy, Orochimaru, who is a conjurer of giant snakes, played by Arashi Rikan III. While the two main figures battle in the center panel (Jiraiya at the top-right), the surrounding characters such as Yashagoro (drawing his sword in the right panel) and Princess Tagato (wielding a halberd in the left panel) dramatically turn their faces toward the central conflict. The tale was adapted into an illustrated 19th century serial novel and kabuki play, Jiraiya géketsu monogatari (Tale of the Hero Jiraiya). This dramatic triptych does not represent a real stage presentation of the play; it was likely issued in advance as an advertisement. Kuniyoshi cleverly adapted the facial features of the famous Kabuki actors who played the characters in the novel. The popularity of the Jiraiya story continues into modern times in several film adaptations, video games, and in a successful manga (graphic novel) and animated TV series, Naruto.

- SBMA Gallery Handout, 2020

SBMA CURATORIAL LABELS

Kuniyoshi was one of the last great ukiyo-e artists whose prints cover a wide range of subjects including depictions of battles of legendary, mythical samurai heroes. One such hero, Jiraiya uses magic to conjure a giant toad to battle his arch-enemy, Orochimaru. The tale was adapted into a 19th century serial novel and a kabuki play. The popularity of Jiraiya’s story continues in several film adaptations, video games, and a manga comic series, Naruto, today.

- Important Works on Paper, October, 2020