Which ukiyo-e artist created the series 108 Heroes of the Popular Suikoden?

Utagawa Kuniyoshi created the ukiyo-e series 108 Heroes of the Popular Suikoden.

The series was inspired by the Chinese novel Water Margin, known in Japanese as Suikoden. Its heroes are rebellious warriors and outlaws, and Kuniyoshi depicted them with dramatic poses, elaborate costumes, weapons, tattoos, and supernatural energy. The prints helped establish his reputation for dynamic musha-e, or warrior pictures.

Kuniyoshi’s designs appeared in the early nineteenth century, when popular audiences were fascinated by translated and adapted stories from China. The series became especially influential because of its bold compositions and vivid characterization. It also helped make Kuniyoshi one of the leading warrior-print artists of late Edo ukiyo-e.

The title is sometimes shortened to One Hundred and Eight Heroes. That number belongs to the legendary band in the story; it should not be confused with a series by Hiroshige or with Kuniyoshi’s many later cat, satire, and actor designs.