THE WATER MARGIN: 108 HEROES BY ISAAC NICHOLS >>>
THE WATER MARGIN: 108 HEROES BY ISAAC NICHOLS >>>
The Water Margin — A monumental body of work by Isaac Nichols
This unbound set includes 108 color prints housed in a custom archival case. Limited to 500 copies, each box set is both a collector’s portfolio and a mythic visual journey.
Inspired by Utagawa Kuniyoshi’s ukiyoe prints & rooted in one of the four great novels of Chinese literature
Nichols has reimagined all 108 of the legendary outlaw heroes in his own hand, honoring tradition while pushing it forward.
Rendered in sumi ink on washi paper
These striking portraits blend classical musha-e aesthetics with the artist’s own tattoo lineage.
Each print includes a detailed description of the featured character & their role in the canon of The 108 Heroes of the Water Margin
Dive deep with extensive cross-referencing between characters, scenes, & symbolism
This contextual layer offers viewers a deeper understanding of the rich, interwoven narrative that defines The Water Margin — one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature.
Many of the figures are adorned with elaborate tattooing, bringing their mythic identities to life
The result is both a tribute to Kuniyoshi’s 19th-century masterwork & a standalone achievement in storytelling through image.
All these contextual layers offer a deeper understanding of the interwoven narrative
Providing a window for audiences to appreciate the rich history, exciting characters, & lasting messages of The Water Margin.
VIEW THE WATER MARGIN CATALOG OF ORIGINALS FOR PURCHASE