A kabuki villain strides through the rain at night

A wild-haired man in a black robe strides through slanting rain, a straw raincoat slung over one shoulder and a short sword drawn at his side; a streak of blue makeup marks his face. Behind him, a traveler in a yellow straw cape walks away into the storm. An inset landscape with distant mountains and a packhorse appears at upper left, beside cartouches for the Kisokaidō series and the station name, Ōi. Depicts the kabuki villain Ono Sadakurō.

Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798–1861) brought heroes, monsters and spectacle into the ukiyo-e print. A pupil of Toyokuni, he made his name in 1827 with the series of the One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Suikoden, tattooed warriors caught mid-action, and went on to giant skeletons, cats, whales and satirical puzzles that slipped past the censors. His restless invention influenced Yoshitoshi and, much later, tattoo and manga art. His prints are held by the British Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Printed as a museum-grade giclée on Hahnemühle fine art paper using 12-ink archival pigment printing. Available handframed in FSC-certified wood with optional float glass, or unframed. Ships worldwide with free delivery to 30+ countries.