Prolific Meiji-period artist Kawanabe Kyōsai (1831-1889), well-known in the West for his darkly humorous illustrations, was commissioned by Scottish surgeon and Japanese art collector William Anderson (1842-1900) to produce a large number of comic paintings in the 1870s. Anderson's collection, which today forms the core of the Japanese paintings at the British Museum, included the handful of fanciful depictions of hell shown below. (Click the "+" under each image to enlarge.)

Illustration by Kawanabe Ky?sai --
Torture in Hell [+]

Illustration by Kawanabe Ky?sai --
Enma, King of Hell [+]

Illustration by Kawanabe Ky?sai --
Enma's Judgment [+]

Illustration by Kawanabe Ky?sai --
Protest to Enma [+]

Illustration by Kawanabe Ky?sai --
Burning at the Stake [+]

Illustration by Kawanabe Ky?sai --
Monster Assault [+]

Illustration by Kawanabe Ky?sai --
Pandora's Box [+]

Illustration by Kawanabe Ky?sai --
Bashing a Monster into the Ground [+]

Illustration by Kawanabe Ky?sai --
Monster Battle [+]

Illustration by Kawanabe Ky?sai --
Hawk Counterattack [+]

Illustration by Kawanabe Ky?sai --
Retribution: Animals vs. Man [+]

Illustration by Kawanabe Ky?sai --
Retribution: Mice vs. Cat [+]