Kuniyoshi Kunisada /

An exploration of the rivalry between Kuniyoshi and Kunisada, two of the most popular Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock print artists of the nineteenth century, based on masterworks from the peerless Japanese art collection at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Rival ukiyo-e masters Kuniyoshi and Kunisada were the two most admired designers of figure prints in nineteenth-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 favourite 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 scores of illustrations in glorious full colour, 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. Readers are invited to decide for themselves which of the two is their personal favourite.