The art of Ran Akiyoshi, 1922–1982

akiyoshi1.jpg

In a similar vein to the work of Gilles Rimbault and other erotic fantasists is Ran Akiyoshi, a Japanese artist and illustrator. Akiyoshi’s work manages to be even more obscure than the Europeans, being virtually undocumented outside Japanese websites, hence the absence of titles and dates for these examples. This is surprising given the quasi-Surrealist nature of his paintings which place buxom goddess types in phantasmagoric settings with subtle or not-so-subtle erotic qualities. Akiyoshi follows the pattern of much of this kind of personal fantasy whereby most of the women share similar features. The book cover immediately below is from a recent Japan-only collection of his work. The Illusion cover at the end is another book collection some of whose fascinating pages can be seen here. As always, if anyone turns up a gallery of further pictures, please leave a comment.

akiyoshi2.jpg

akiyoshi3.jpg

akiyoshi4.jpg

akiyoshi5.jpg

akiyoshi6.jpg

akiyoshi7.jpg

akiyoshi8.jpg

Elsewhere on { feuilleton }
The fantastic art archive

Previously on { feuilleton }
The art of Gilles Rimbault
The art of Jim Leon, 1938–2002
The art of Sibylle Ruppert
The art of Bertrand

Discover more from { feuilleton }

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading