Ukiyo-e
| Ukiyo-e refers to the paintings of the floating world, "the
world of transient pleasures that included courtesans and actors" and
the life enjoyed by Japan's emerging middle class in the urban centers
of Tokugawa Japan (Los Angeles County Museum of Art). "It is an
art closely connected with the pleasures of theatres, restaurants, teahouses,
geisha and courtesans..."
(Johansson) The woodblock prints and paintings were produced between
the 17th and 20th centuries and influenced European art and artists,
especially the 19th century impressionists ("Ukiyo-e"). To
your right, an early woodblock print of the actor Bando Mitsugoro by
Kuniyasu (1794-1832,) also known as Utagawa Yasugoro. |
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Because they were prints, ukiyo-e could be mass
produced. In the travel boom of the early 19th century, especially along
the Tokkaido Road, pilgrims eagerly bought Hokusai's prints, especially
his "Thirty- Six Views of Mount Fuji." This series was Hokusai's "most
famous...and successful...work.... The perfection of this composition
grew from Hokusai's long study and analysis of form..." (The Los
Angeles Museum of Art). This graphic from the "Thirty-Six Views" series
contains no images of humans but expresses the might and power of Mt.
Fuji. Hokusai and Hiroshige remain the two most famous and influential
artists of the ukiyo-e genre. |
| "Designed for Pleasure"--submitted by Ileana Castillo |
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"Night of Snow at Kambara" by Hiroshige,
sent from Leilani Herzog |
| Hiroshige bridge scene, sent by Kelly Kalinske |
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"Shoshu Shichiri ga hama" by Hokusai, submitted
by Alice Adelman |
| From "Views of Mt. Fuji," by Ogata Gekko,
submitted by Amy Klivans. |
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Hiroshige's "Night View of Saruwaka"
submitted by Nicola Schulze and Hannah Towne |
| Hiroshige's "Yatsumi Bridge," submitted by Kat Booher. |
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"Roseau sous la niege et canard sauvage" (Reed under
snow and wild duck,") by Hiroshige, submitted by Theresa Floyd. |
| One of Hokusai's views of Mount Fuji, submitted by
Ali Aronstam. It is actually not a woodblock print, but a painting on
silk often entitled "The Dragon on Smoke Escaping from Mt. Fuji." (Breen) |
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Hokusai (title?) submitted by Anna Cvitovic |
| Hiroshige print, "Travelers and Porters Crossing
a Steep Path," submitted by Bianka Mariscal |
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Utagawa print (title?) submitted by Elke Teichmann |
| Originally identified as one of Hokusai's "Thirty-Six Views of Mt. Fuji,"
recent scholarship asserts that it is a print by Hiroshige, submitted by
Rebecca Wang. |
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| Hiroshige created this print, "Hakone" as one of his "Fifty-Three Stations
of the Tokaido," submitted by Kennedy Flanders. |
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Hokusai's print, "The Sazai Hall of the 500 Rakan Temple"
is the collection of woodblock prints at Giverney, collected by Claude
Monet (Caudelier) |
| Hokusai completed this watercolor, entitled "Wagtail
in a Snowfall," a different genre from the woodblock prints. I include
it here to show you the rich variety of skills and interpretations that
Hokusai was able to bring to his art. And, because I think it is particularly
charming! |
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image source < http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~jwb/ukiyoe/ >
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We cannot conclude the examination of the ukiyo-e
woodblock prints of "the floating world" without including Hokusai's
most famous image, "In the Hollow of the Wave of the Coast off Kanagawa,"
completed in 1827. It has been replicated again and again, as you know.
It forms the signature piece of Hokusai's "Thirty-Six Views of Mt. Fuji." |
image source < http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~jwb/ukiyoe/ >
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Breen, Jim. Jim Breen's Ukiyo-E Gallery. Online available.
< http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~jwb/ukiyoe/ >
Cauderlier, A. "Hokusai Katsushika Japanese WoodBlocks in Claude
Monet's Giverney Collection."
Intermonet. Online available. < http://www.intermonet.com/japan/hokusai/ >
"Hiroshige." Wikipedia, the
free encyclopedia. Online available.
< http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ando_Hiroshige >
"Hokusai." Wikipedia, the free
encyclopedia. Online available.
< http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hokusai >
Johansson, Hans Olof. UKIYO-E: The Pictures
of the Floating World.
Online available. < http://www.ukiyo-e.se/ >
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Japanese Art. Online
available.
< http://www.lacma.org/japaneseart/prints/prints.htm >
Malyon, John. "Artists by Movement: Ukiyo-e--Images from the
Floating World.
Artcyclopedia. Online available.
< http://www.artcyclopedia.com/history/ukiyo-e.html >
Terukazu, Akiyama. Treasures of Asia"
Japanese Painting. New
York: Skira/Rizzoli, 1977.
"Ukiyo-e." Wikipedia, the free
encyclopedia. Online available.
< http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukiyo-e >