“Ukiyo-e” (Ukiyo Printing) “Ukiyo-e” is a genre of painting that was established during the Edo period (1603 - 1868) in Japan. It is also called “Nshiki-e” (Nishiki Printing). There were a variety of subjects for painting such as drama, classical literature, Japanese poetry, customs, regional anecdote and legend, portrait, still life, landscape, cultural enlightenment, the imperial family, religion, etc. There is also a sense of contemporary in the word of “Ukiyo”. Therefore, “Ukiyo-e” is definitely a genre painting depicting the contemporary customs in those days. Deriving from “Yamato-e” that was Japanese original painting school, “Ukiyo-e” has maintained the cultural background of the overall painting style while “Ukiyo-e” mainly has drawn scenery and daily life of ordinary people. There are prints, a painting and an original painting in “Ukiyo-e”. An original painting and a painting are only one thing. Therefore, those are very expensive especially drawn by a renowned painter. On the other hand, prints were cheap enough for ordinary people to buy because many of the same pattern were printed off. Collections of feudal lords and influential people are carried over to the current leading collections. “Ukiyo-e” prints was a part of the popular culture and it was a companion to be viewed by taking in hand. They were not framed and looked from a distance like art exhibitions. Nowadays, “Ukiyo-e” is put into a frame and decorated at household and museums to view. As a feature, “Ukiyo-e” was drawn with a bold composition and pattern. It is also unique point of “Ukiyo-e” that it did not have any shadows. The subject of “Ukiyo-e” was drawing “now” (this world) rather than “the past” or “the future”. Therefore, painters of “Ukiyo-e” pursued the topic and customs that was the forefront of the times as a subject. They delighted people in the depiction with a variety of ideas. Speaking of enjoyment of the ordinary people in the Edo period, those were “playing” and “a play” at the theater. This was the background why the picture of “the beauty” and “the actor” were depicted as a subject. As an alternative to the bromide posters of “Kabuki” actors and trendy fashion magazines, “Ukiyo-e” has penetrated into ordinary people in a short period of time. You might be interested in this cool craft. japan-marche/category/select/cid/319/pid/8857/language/en/currency/USD
Posted on: Sun, 13 Jul 2014 12:01:57 +0000
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