These artworks were made by
Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797-1861), one of the last great Japanese masters of the ukiyo-e style were really a novelty of its age. Kuniyoshi started to use cats instead of humans in satirical kabuki prints in the early 1840s.
Cats Enjoying The Evening Cool, 1839-1842
Engaged in Various Activities, 1840
via Matome
Practicing Their Music, 1841
Dancing, 1841
via Livedoor
Three cats at an indoor party, playing a game of ken, 1841
via Suttonde
Two cats as sumo wrestlers in a famous scene from the kabuki theater
via Kuniyoshiproject
Cats imitating the tenth chapter of the novel The Tales of Genji, 1842
via Kuniyoshiproject
Cats’ kabuki with some degatari chanters, c. 1842
via Kuniyoshiproject
“Six Immortal Poets” or “Six Cats with Fur of Different Colors” (the title is a pun, so both are correct), 1843-1846
The view of Yoshiwara, 1846
via Living Lets
