A draughtsman of great dexterity with a wild, often bizarre, imagination. Loved sake, sometimes painting under its influence. At an early age studied under Kuniyoshi, then Maemura Towa and later Kano Tohaku Chinshin before becoming an independent painter at 27. Was famous for his crow paintings but also loved skeletons. In many respects he can be considered Hokusai's successor. An artist of extraordinary creativity, Kyosai produced hanging paintings, screens, sketchbooks and designed subjects for every kind of print: surimono, fans, illustrated books.