Matatabi Hot Spring

Matatabi Hot Spring, 1887

Author: Utagaw Yoshifuji
Print Type: Original Postcard
Publisher: PIN UP CO.,LTD.
Print Condition: New

Utagawa Yoshifuji – Cat Hot Spring (Matatabi Bath).Utagawa Yoshifuji (1828–1887), a pupil of Utagawa Kuniyoshi, is celebrated for his playful omocha-e (“toy prints”) that captured the humor and imagination of everyday life. Cat Hot Spring (Matatabi Bath) belongs to this whimsical tradition, presenting a fantastical scene where cats indulge in the pleasures of a hot spring scented with matatabi, the Japanese silvervine beloved by felines. Created during the late Edo to early Meiji period, the work exemplifies Yoshifuji’s gift for combining satire, charm, and popular culture in the format of woodblock prints. With its anthropomorphic animals and lively atmosphere, the print not only delighted children and common audiences of the time but also reflects the enduring appeal of ukiyo-e as a medium that could be humorous, inventive, and accessible. Today, this playful vision of a “cat spa” stands as a testament to the joyful imagination of nineteenth-century Japan.

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