Picture Books of Kawanabe Kyosai

Influential traditional Japanese artist Kawanabe Kyosai (1831–1839) lived through the Edo period to the Meiji period, creating fascinating caricatures of people, skeletons, animals, and monsters. Considered by many to be the first political caricaturist of Japan, he is also credited with creating the first manga magazine in 1874. While Kyosai’s works are once again experiencing a revival of interest in the 21st century, his picture books – which are more like an art or illustration book of woodblock prints – have not received as much attention. Authored by Kenji Hinohara, the chief curator of the Ota Memorial Museum of Art, with contributions from Hitomi Sawada.