Fine Art Poster
From $29
A giclée print on 200gsm matte fine art paper, using a twelve-colour process for accurate, fade-resistant colour. Supplied unframed, delivered flat or rolled.
Seated Ebisu (Ink Wash Sketch) - Utagawa Kuniyoshi
Regular price
$29.00 USD
Sale price
$29.00 USD
Regular price
Archival giclée
Frames arrive ready to hang
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Made to order
Description
A minimalist ink wash sketch of the Japanese deity Ebisu by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, capturing the figure with fluid, expressive brushwork.
This ink wash sketch by Utagawa Kuniyoshi depicts Ebisu, one of the seven gods of good fortune in Japanese mythology. Ebisu is traditionally associated with fishermen and merchants, often shown with a fishing rod and a sea bream. In this study, the artist employs a minimalist approach, using fluid, calligraphic brushwork to capture the deity in a seated posture. The economy of line is characteristic of the sumi-e tradition, where the artist aims to convey the essence of the subject through simple, deliberate strokes rather than exhaustive detail.
Kuniyoshi, a master of the Utagawa school, is widely recognised for his imaginative woodblock prints of warriors and ghosts. However, his private sketches and preparatory drawings reveal a different side of his practice. These works demonstrate his technical facility with the brush and his ability to capture character with minimal intervention. The figure of Ebisu is rendered with soft, grey washes that suggest the volume of his robes and the gentle expression on his face. The composition is sparse, focusing entirely on the deity, leaving the surrounding space empty to draw the viewer's attention to the gesture and form of the figure.
This piece offers a glimpse into the informal side of Kuniyoshi's artistic output. It lacks the rigid structure of his commercial print designs, opting instead for a spontaneous, gestural quality. The paper texture remains visible, adding a tactile element to the work. As a study, it provides insight into the artist's process and his familiarity with traditional ink painting techniques. The work is a quiet example of the versatility of an artist who shaped the visual culture of the Edo period.
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Because every print is made to order, we don't offer change-of-mind returns, refunds or exchanges. If your order arrives faulty, damaged or incorrect, we'll replace it free of charge — just contact us within 48 hours of delivery. See our refunds page for full details.
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Manufacturing
Each print is produced to order using 12-colour giclée printing on FSC-certified archival paper. Designed in Britain and printed at your nearest production hub to reduce waste and speed up delivery.
Care and materials
Specific Features
Every Solis piece is made to order with archival, gallery-quality materials built to last.
- Museum-grade giclée printing for rich, fade-resistant colour
- Archival matte fine-art paper, FSC-certified
- Multiple sizes and framing options available
- Frames in black, natural wood, dark wood or white
- Framed prints arrive ready to hang
Care & Cleaning
To keep your artwork looking its best:
- Dust gently with a soft, dry cloth
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight
- Never use liquid cleaners on the print or canvas surface
- Keep in a dry, room-temperature space
- Handle prints with clean, dry hands
Materials & Sizing
Museum-grade giclée on FSC-certified archival matte paper, with framed and canvas options.
- Paper sizes: A4, A3, A2, A1, A0 and B2 (50×70 cm)
- Canvas: XS (20×30 cm) to Large (60×90 cm)
- Frames: black, natural wood, dark wood or white
Complete The Look
Seated Ebisu (Ink Wash Sketch) - Utagawa Kuniyoshi
Regular price
From $29.00 USD
Sale price
From $29.00 USD
Regular price
Fine Art Poster / A4 (21x29.7 cm) / -
Artist Biography
Utagawa Kuniyoshi
Kuniyoshi's father was a silk dyer in Edo. The boy helped with pattern design, which gave him an instinct for colour and textile decoration that shows in every print he made. At twelve he caught the attention of Utagawa Toyokuni, the head of the Utagawa school, and was admitted as a student. He was given the name Kuniyoshi in 1814 and became independent.
For the first thirteen years he struggled. The breakthrough came in 1827 with a commission to illustrate the 108 Heroes of the Suikoden, a Chinese adventure novel. He drew tattooed warriors in dynamic poses that broke out of the frame, the tattoos rendered with a detail that started a fashion in Edo. The series was enormously popular and established him as the leading designer of warrior prints.
He loved cats. His studio was always full of them, and he often worked with a kitten tucked inside his kimono. When a cat died, he sent it to a nearby temple, and he kept a Buddhist altar for his deceased cats at home. Cats appear constantly in his prints: as substitute actors in kabuki scenes, as letter-forms in playful alphabets, as parodies of famous paintings. Government censorship in the 1840s prohibited the depiction of actors and courtesans by name, so Kuniyoshi gave them cat faces, which was technically legal and funnier.
His range was unusual for an ukiyo-e artist. Warriors, landscapes, beautiful women, ghosts, satirical cartoons, cats. He was equally comfortable with the heroic and the absurd, sometimes on the same sheet. His triptych of the giant skeleton spectre, from the tale of Takiyasha the Witch, is one of the most reproduced images in Japanese art.
For the first thirteen years he struggled. The breakthrough came in 1827 with a commission to illustrate the 108 Heroes of the Suikoden, a Chinese adventure novel. He drew tattooed warriors in dynamic poses that broke out of the frame, the tattoos rendered with a detail that started a fashion in Edo. The series was enormously popular and established him as the leading designer of warrior prints.
He loved cats. His studio was always full of them, and he often worked with a kitten tucked inside his kimono. When a cat died, he sent it to a nearby temple, and he kept a Buddhist altar for his deceased cats at home. Cats appear constantly in his prints: as substitute actors in kabuki scenes, as letter-forms in playful alphabets, as parodies of famous paintings. Government censorship in the 1840s prohibited the depiction of actors and courtesans by name, so Kuniyoshi gave them cat faces, which was technically legal and funnier.
His range was unusual for an ukiyo-e artist. Warriors, landscapes, beautiful women, ghosts, satirical cartoons, cats. He was equally comfortable with the heroic and the absurd, sometimes on the same sheet. His triptych of the giant skeleton spectre, from the tale of Takiyasha the Witch, is one of the most reproduced images in Japanese art.
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Fine Art Framed
From $89
The same fine art print in a solid wood frame with UV-protective acrylic glaze and rigid backing. Five frame colours. Arrives ready to hang.
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