Biography

Ukiyo-e artist. In 1846, became a disciple of Chikanobu Toyohara. Around 1848, became a disciple of Toyokuni Utagawa III. From around 1855, began to create such as bijin-ga (beauty prints). In 1869, a series of “yakusha okubi-e” (large-headed, actor prints) was published by Gusokuya. He became a leading artist of Meiji era (1868–1912) actor prints. He consistently adhered to the Edo-style print, while also adopting innovative ideas, such as depicting a single actor print on a set of two or three sheets. In his personal life, he is said to have taken the eccentric conduct of changing his residence over 100 times, and having over 40 estranged wives. Along with Yoshitoshi Tsukioka and Kiyochika Kobayashi, he is considered as one of “The Three Greats of Meiji Ukiyo-e.” He has also been referred to as the “Meiji Sharaku” (a reference to the Edo period ukiyo-e artist), seen as a leading artist of actor prints of the time.