The Rebel and His Cats: How Kuniyoshi's Art Outsmarted the Shogun

Ready-to-hang: Includes hanging kit, ready to hang directly on the wall.
Frame Material: Durable pine wood.
Frame Measurements: 20-25mm (0.79"-0.98") thick, 10-14mm (0.4"-0.6") wide.
Paper Weight: 200 gsm (80 lb), thickness: 0.22 mm (8.7 mils).
Paper Finishing: Matte, smooth, non-reflective surface.
Protection: Shatterproof plexiglass protects the poster.
Sustainable Paper: FSC-certified materials or equivalent.

This is a charming and lively Japanese woodblock print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, a master of the Ukiyo-e style from the late Edo period (c. 1847-1850). The artwork is a bustling composition filled with numerous cats, each captured with a distinct personality and in a variety of playful poses—sleeping, stretching, wrestling, and peeking out of a basket. Kuniyoshi’s masterful, fluid lines and keen observation of feline behavior bring the entire scene to life, creating a humorous and endearing tribute to the everyday life of cats.

Historical Tidbit

The artist, Utagawa Kuniyoshi, was a legendary cat lover. His studio was famously filled with cats and kittens, and his deep affection for them is obvious in his work. But there was often a clever, rebellious subtext to his cat prints. During his time, the government imposed strict censorship laws forbidding art depicting "luxurious" subjects like actors and courtesans. To cleverly bypass these rules, Kuniyoshi created satirical prints where he would cast cats in the roles of famous kabuki actors or historical figures, using his favorite animal to poke fun at the authorities.

Our sturdy wooden framed posters come ready to hang and are printed on heavyweight white matte paper with a smooth, luxurious finish—designed to stand the test of time: