Ukiyo-e woodblock printing, an art form of Edo period, made an indelible impact on the cultural tapestry of Japan. Ukiyo-e literary means “pictures of the floating world”. Thriving during 17 – 19th centuries, Ukiyo was associated with hedonistic pleasures of the merchant class of the Edo period, the erstwhile name of Tokyo.
The article was originally written by Asra Shaheen for Bidsquare publication.
The Edo period holds an extraordinary significance in the history of Japan. Tokugawa Ieyasu and his descendants were the unchallenged rulers during this era. Their rule was characterized by economic growth, strict social hierarchy and conservative foreign policies. However, it was also the age of creativity. The merchants and artisans enjoyed the maximum self-indulgence in an economically prosperous society. They patronized geisha and courtesans culture and kabuki theatre. All of these were subjects of Ukiyo-e woodblock images.
Eventually, woodblock print became the identity of Japanese art in the West. Art collectors in general and Impressionists such as Édouard Manet, Claude Monet and Edgar Degas in particular showed great interest in landscape works of Hiroshige and Hokusai.
Ukiyo-e technique is notable for its unparalleled color blending and graduation effects that no machine could replicate. Unlike the western woodcut, which uses oil-based inks, Ukiyo-e uses water-based ones. The water-based hues give the prints a glazed sheen and transparency.
The article was originally written by Asra Shaheen for Bidsquare publication.
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