Utagawa Kuniyoshi yose-e, “gather together picture”
歌川国芳『みかけハこハゐが とんだいゝ人だ』1847-1852年頃 More
This is a work by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, an Edo ukiyo-e artist born in 1798. As the title suggests (reading: He looks scary but he’s a really nice guy), the portrait depicts a tough-looking guy. However, the face and hands are made up of people in various poses. The person making up the nose from under the eyebrows is in an awkward position, while the person making up the ears is in a humorous and adorable position.
This reveals a mysterious point about human cognition. When you stare at each person, you cannot perceive the whole as a portrait. Do you understand? Try covering part of the picture with your hand. Depending on how you hide it, there will be parts that you cannot recognize as a portrait. On the other hand, even though a fairly large area is hidden, there will be points where you can recognize that a face is drawn. The keyword that unravels this mysterious human cognition is the word “Gestalt,” which is full of chuunibyou vibes.
The use of muted tones and precise linework reflects traditional Japanese artistic techniques, while the subject matter leans towards the imaginative and fantastical. This piece likely explores themes of identity, transformation, or the interconnectedness of individuals within a greater whole.
The following 寄せ絵 (yose-e, “gather together picture”) print takes the concept a step further and features a creation not unlike Arcimboldo’s composite faces. Rather than plants or objects though, Kuniyoshi uses human figures in various acrobatic poses to form the figure of a man. The artist’s careful arrangement naturally creates the contours of the face, red loincloths form the man’s gums while a sprawled out figure creates the impression of a nose. One cannot help but laugh at the bizarre arrangements and humorous poses of the people.
“At first glance he looks very fierce, but he’s really a nice person” by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, circa 1847-1848, large-sized polychrome prints, Gallery Beniya.