1837
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Mouse Monster and Others is a 1837 paint by Utagawa (Gountei) Sadahide, a Romanticism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This painting shows many monster figures, some with two sides. The monsters are drawn from two sides, like the one that looks like a mouse from one side and a human from the other. This was done so people could cut them out and play with them, gluing the two sides together. You can learn more about this style by looking at the work of artist: Utagawa Sadahide.
This is a finished design for a print by Utagawa Sadahide from 1837, featuring multiple monster figures shown in pairs from opposite sides. Each pair shares the same outline but reversed, such as the mouse and human guises of the same creature in the top corners. These designs were intended to be cut out, folded, and played with, making surviving examples rare. The sheet is executed in black and color, reflecting the playful nature of *bakemono* ("things that change"), a theme well-suited to the format.
Read the full account in the museum source.
Utagawa Sadahide , also known as Gountei Sadahide, was a Japanese artist best known for his prints in the ukiyo-e style as a member of the Utagawa school.
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