What Is Ukiyo-E Art: Essential Guide [With Examples & Artists]

Ukiyo-e is a Japanese art form that flourished in the years following the Edo period, during which designs were often borrowed from Chinese scrolls and paintings.

The aesthetic style of Ukiyo-e was influenced by the genre of “Shunga” (spring pictures) from China and later Japan, which focused on representing beauty and sensuality.

The term ukiyo literally translates to “floating world” or “beautiful world”, referring to a time when Japanese society had declined in power and wealth but also experienced a rebirth of culture and creativity.

This period was characterized by a great increase in population; however, it was also marked by declining standards of living, political corruption, and economic inequality.

The practice of ukiyo-e began with woodblock printing but later evolved into screen printing and painting.

The most famous practitioners were Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849), Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858), Toyohiro Aki (1872-1943), Takamatsu Chuhei (1792-1866) and Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797-1861).

Ukiyo-E History

The history of ukiyo-e, the Japanese woodblock print, can be traced to the early 17th century. The first known prints were created by Ukiyo-e artist Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858), who used his artistic skills to document life in Edo (now Tokyo) at the time.

The popularity of ukiyo-e began to decline in 1853 when Hiroshige’s son, Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1836–1883), took over as head of the ukiyo-e school. He continued his father’s work and produced more than 300 prints featuring scenes from daily life in Japan’s capital city.

Ukiyo-e had its heyday during the Edo period (1603–1867). The shogunate government encouraged ukiyo-e artists to depict the natural beauty and visual splendor of Japan by sponsoring tea ceremonies and sumo wrestling matches for entertainment purposes.

Ukiyo-es were commissioned by wealthy patrons such as daimyos, male feudal lords who ruled over specific regions within Japan; shoguns; merchants; and Buddhist monks who used them as devotional objects for worshiping Buddha images

The Unification Of Japan Under The Tokugawa Shogunate

Katsushika Hokusai (1760 – 1849) is one of Japan’s most famous artists, best known for his woodblock prints. His most famous work is The Great Wave off Kanagawa, which depicts a giant wave that submerges a small fishing boat.

Although Hokusai was born in Edo (Tokyo), he lived most of his life in Kyoto, where he studied calligraphy and art under Utamaro Tomioka and Shunsho Kitagawa. Hokusai was also influenced by Kano Eitoku, a famous painter from Kyoto who introduced him to Western painting techniques.

After the death of Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1598, Japan entered into a period of political chaos known as Sengoku Jidai or “Warring States Period.” During this time period there were many warrior clans vying for power in order to control all of Japan.

The Tokugawa shogunate (military dictatorship) was established in 1603 by Tokugawa Ieyasu after he defeated Oda Nobunaga and his allies at the Battle of Sekigahara. This victory made him master of all Japan and established him as

The Development Of Urban Centers

In the 19th century, the idea of urbanization was becoming more and more common. People who lived in a city did not necessarily have to work in an office, but they could also be self-employed.

In order to promote this development, cities all over the world began organizing themselves into a central power. The city was no longer just a place where people worked; it was also a place where they lived.

In order to make their cities popular, urban planners came up with many new ideas and innovations. One of these was zoning laws that are still used today and which give each district its own set of rules for development.

The idea behind zoning laws is that if you build within certain boundaries and follow certain rules, your property will not be destroyed by other buildings or businesses nearby and your neighborhood will continue to develop as planned.

The Walling Off Of Pleasure Centers

In other words, the brain can get a little overwhelmed by thoughts and feelings and sensations. So it starts to “wall off” certain areas of the brain. That way, the rest of the brain doesn’t have to deal with all those extra bits and pieces.

You can see this in action when you’re having an intense experience. When you’re really into something, your heart is pounding, your palms are sweaty (and you may even be a little scared), and your breath may be shallow. You may also feel dizzy or nauseous or startle easily — all signs that your body is trying to tell you that it’s overloaded.

So your brain begins to “walling off” some aspects of what’s going on by turning off parts of the cortex — like shutting down one part at a time until there’s nothing left but feeling amazed at how awesome what just happened was! Or just feeling amazed at how cool it would be if someone else were doing that right now!

Mass Distribution Of Woodblock Prints

The mass distribution of woodblock prints was a movement that took place in the Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279) in China. It was a period when many artists were chosen to be sent on an expeditionary mission to foreign countries including Japan and Vietnam, which were at war with China at the time.

During this time, the rulers of Japan had no knowledge about printing techniques, so they asked for help from Chinese artists. The Japanese prince Shirakawa Fuhito, who was then chancellor of the court, invited Chinese artists to visit Japan and teach them about printing techniques.

The first group of artists included Dong Yuan, who was sent by Emperor Huizong to Japan in 1173. He brought back with him some 300 different types of papermaking materials such as rice husks and silkworm cocoons as well as blank books in order to make books using woodblocks instead of traditional methods involving clay tablets or bamboo slips.

Another famous artist who accompanied Dong Yuan on his trip was Ma Yuefu who also brought back many different kinds of printing materials such as inkstones, brushes and wooden blocks with him when he went back home two years later along

Ukiyo-E Art Examples

Ukiyo-e is the Japanese word for “pictures of the floating world”. It is a genre of art that flourished in Japan during the 17th and 18th centuries. The word ukiyo derives from ukiyoe (浮世), which means “to float”. The genre has been called “floating world” because it depicts scenes from everyday life in a floating world of illusionary beauty.

Ukiyo-e typically depicts scenes from urban centers and pleasure quarters, such as Yoshiwara, Edo (present day Tokyo) or Kyoto’s Gion district. The paintings were meant to be affordable and accessible to all classes, and as such, were decorated with bright colors and various types of woodblock printing, including sumi-e ink wash painting (see below).

It was considered vulgar for women to paint directly on silk or paper; instead, female artists painted on lacquerware or ceramics. Ukiyo-e artists often depicted scenes from popular fiction instead of their own lives, because they believed that a good painting should be based on something real.

The Great Wave Off Kanagawa

The Great Wave Off Kanagawa is a famous ukiyo-e print by Japanese artist Hokusai. It is composed of various waves and waterfalls, with the viewer’s perspective being in the middle of the river.

The art is considered one of Hokusai’s most famous works, and has been featured on stamps from Japan, as well as being on display at the Louvre Museum in Paris.

The print was originally created to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Heian period (794–1185). It was first published in 1830 and depicts a vast ocean wave crashing against a rocky coast, with clouds above and behind it.

   

In front of it are other waves crashing into each other, which give the impression that they are being combatted by another wave. This idea was adapted by Hokusai from an earlier work by Katsushika Hokusai called “Great Waves Off Kanagawa” (Kanagawa no Umi Kaidō).

Ōtani Oniji Iii As Yakko Edobei

Ōtani Oniji Iii As Yakko Edobei is a game made by the same makers of the first two Oniji games. It’s a sequel to the original Oniji and it’s just as good, if not better than its predecessor.

The characters are all new, but they look like they were designed by the same person who designed the first two games.

The story takes place in a land called Yakko where there are many different races of people. There are humans and elves, but also goblins and trolls.

The story starts when the main character, Yakko, is sent on an important mission to find out what happened to his best friend who has disappeared for several months now. He meets up with his old friends from school and they start searching for him together.

One thing that makes Ōtani Oniji Iii As Yakko Edobei different from other RPGs is that it allows you to choose how your character looks like. You can choose between three different hairstyles (each one with six different colors), three different eye colors (each one with six different colors) and two different skin tones (each one with six different tones). You also have an option

Two Beauties With Bamboo

They are the two beautiful ladies with bamboo, that can be found in many places.

The first one is a lovely lady from china, who is very well known for her long hair and her beauty. This woman has been married to a man for many years and they have a child together.

She is considered as one of the most beautiful women in the world and she has been awarded many times by the magazines. The ladies love to wear dresses which are made out of silk or satin and they also like to have make up on their faces. She has become very famous because of her long hair which she wears in an elegant way.

The second one is a young girl from south korea, who has been given by her family as an ornament because she was born with a rare condition called alopecia areata, which means that she loses all her hair within a short period of time. She learned how to use her natural beauty and make up so that people would find her attractive when she was alone or when she went out with other people with whom she was familiarized.

Ukiyo-E Paintings And Prints

Ukiyo-e is the name of a genre of Japanese woodblock prints and paintings from the 17th through 19th centuries. The term Ukiyo literally means ‘new pictures’ and was coined by Torii Kiyonaga in 1686 when describing the rapidly developing Japanese pictorial scene that was taking place during the Edo period (1603–1867).[1][2]

The first ukiyo-e paintings were produced in Tokyo from the beginning of Jingiuri Era (1615–1624) until the early years of Bunsei Era (1720s). These artists were influenced by Chinese art, which had been brought to Japan in various forms since the 7th century.

Beginning in 1615, many ukiyo-e artists followed itinerant Chinese painters to work on commissions along the coast between Kyoto and Kagoshima.[3]

Ukiyo-e reached its height under Ogata Kōrin (c. 1612–1674), Utamaro (1613–1665), Kunisada II (1797–1864), Hiroshige II (1797–1858) and Itō Jakuchū (1865–1908).

Exploring Famous Ukiyo-E Prints

Famous Ukiyo-E Prints

The ukiyo-e prints are a genre in Japanese art that developed between 1796 and 1867. It was at first a continuation of the nanga style, but quickly evolved into something more abstract and aesthetically pleasing. The artists worked mainly in woodblock printing, though some also made paintings on silk or paper.

The term “ukiyo” means “pictures of the floating world,” and is often used to refer to the entire genre of ukiyo-e prints. There were several artists who created this style during its heyday, including Shunsho (1763–1827) and Utamaro (1750–1806). Neither one had any formal training in art or design; they simply knew how to make beautiful pictures with their brushes.

One thing you can say about these artists is that they were not afraid to experiment with their subjects matter; such as using everyday objects for their compositions or even changing details like facial features or clothing styles from scene to scene!

Ukiyo E Artists – The Great Wave Off Kanagawa By Hokusai, 1831

Hokusai’s Great Wave Off Kanagawa (巨潮の海, ukiyo e) is a woodblock print by Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai. It was completed in 1830 and depicts the aftermath of a tsunami that hit the shoreline at Kamakura, Japan during a typhoon in 1831.

The print has since become one of the most reproduced images in history and has been used as a symbol for disaster relief efforts across Asia.

The Great Wave Off Kanagawa portrays the aftermath of a typhoon that struck the city of Edo (modern day Tokyo) on November 30, 1831. The storm caused heavy damage to homes, boats and ships along the coastline, killing many people and causing widespread flooding.

In response to this natural disaster, Hokusai created his famous print depicting three young men with their heads bowed in prayer on top of a hill overlooking the sea.

Ukiyo-E Paintings – The Colored Reins Of A Loving Wife By Tōshūsai Sharaku

Ukiyo-e is a Japanese style of woodblock print, painted and printed on paper. Ukiyo-e translates as “pictures of the floating world” and represents the transient nature of life. One of the most famous ukiyo-e artists was Tōshūsai Sharaku (1786–1864).

The relationship between husband and wife in this painting reflects the complexity of relationships between men and women in Japan at that time. The wife is shown with her back to us, wearing a kimono with colored patterns on it, while her husband looks at her from behind.

He is dressed in traditional Japanese clothing, but with Western influences on his clothes; he wears trousers instead of traditional trousers worn by men in Japan, and he has long hair and moustache – both non-Japanese features.

The woman is looking up at her husband with love; she holds out her hand to him as if offering him something precious which she wants him to take away from her sight for a moment so that she can look at it without interruption from him or anyone else around them.

Ukiyo-E Art Examples • Two Beauties With Bamboo By Utamaro

Ukiyo-e art is the quintessence of Japanese art. It was produced by artists who were often courtesans in the Edo period, with many works depicting scenes of life in the pleasure quarters of Kyoto and Edo (modern Tokyo).

Ukiyo-e is a term used to describe a genre of woodblock prints and paintings that flourished during Japan’s so-called “floating world” or “bakufu” period (1603–1867). The term ukiyo came from a Japanese word meaning “floating world”.

In this context, it refers to the world outside the capital city of Kyoto, which comprised most of Japan’s populated regions. Ukiyo then became synonymous with pleasure quarters, red-light districts, or brothels. The artists who painted for such patrons were called ukiyo-e (“pictures of the floating world”).

Ukiyo-E Landscape Art

The Ukiyo-e (浮世絵) style of Japanese woodblock prints was a product of the Edo period (1603–1867), with its focus on pictures of nature and everyday life, rather than the more courtly style of shunga. The term ukiyo refers to the floating world: a transient and superficial world based on entertainment.

Ukiyo-e artists were outsiders; they believed in the pleasure principle and saw themselves as free from social constraints.

Ukiyo-e artists used color to depict everything from city street scenes to celestial landscapes, flowers and birds. They also produced many images for use in Zen gardens or gardens that were built for viewing works by famous artists.

The tradition continued into modern times with examples being found in collections today such as those at the British Museum, National Museum of Modern Art Tokyo, New York Public Library and Tokyo’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The Legacy Of Ukiyo-E

The legacy of ukiyo-e is not just a style of art, but also a way of life. The word ukiyo means “floating world,” and refers to the floating population that filled Edo (Tokyo) during the 17th and 18th centuries. With over 7 million inhabitants, Edo was one of the largest cities in the world at this time. People flocked to Edo from all over Japan and other parts of Asia to work as artists or entertainers.

Many ukiyo painters spent their entire lives in this bustling city, creating beautiful works that depict the daily life of these people, who were known for their beauty and sophistication. To see how they lived and worked, we can look at some of their paintings—which often include scenes from everyday life as well as scenes from Kabuki theaters and sumo wrestling matches—as well as their poems, which express feelings about love, friendship and beauty.

Ukiyo-E Artworks – Wrapping Up

Ukiyo-e is a form of Japanese woodblock printing, dating from the 17th century through the 19th. Ukiyo-e is characterized by its spectacular use of color and the artist’s freedom to depict figures in a naturalistic manner.

The word “ukiyo” means “picturesque” or “beautiful”. The ukiyo-e style was used to produce images intended for popular consumption, as opposed to art for art’s sake. The term ukiyo refers to the district of Edo (modern Tokyo), where the publishing industry flourished.

The name “ukiyo-e” first appeared in print in 1876; it was coined by poet Masaoka Shiki (1797–1866), who called his magazine Shinchōgatsu and was one of the first innovators of ukiyo-e technique.

Ukiyo-e artists were inspired by life around them: busy urban streets and markets; elegant courtship rituals; powerful leaders; beautiful women; sumptuous Kabuki theatre scenes; seasonal holidays; the many forms of entertainment available at the pleasure quarters (geisha houses); and more. Some artists specialized in portraying famous actors, kabuki performers, Kabuki actors or other