Ukiyo-e: Japan's Art of the Floating World
By: Alyssa Sin
Ukiyo-e is a Japanese traditional art form popularized during the Edo period (1615-1868). Broken down, Uki means "floating," yo means "world," and e means "pictures," with the word meaning pictures of a floating world. Using woodblocks, Ukiyo-e captured everyday life, nature, people, and stories we can still see today.
Ukiyo-e prints require several artisans: the eshi (artist), horishi (carver), and surishi (printer). The process begins with the eshi creating a design on paper with black ink. Then, the horishi takes the paper and pastes it onto cherry wood. The design is then carved onto the wooden block, and other blocks are carved for each color used in the print. The last step is done by the surishi, who brushes ink over the woodblocks, covers them with paper, and finally brushes the ink onto the paper using a barren.
This printing process was developed during Japan's Edo period in Edo (modern-day Tokyo), a peaceful 250 years under the Tokugawa shoguns. The shoguns restructured the social hierarchy, and the wealthy merchant class was placed low in the hierarchy. Merchants used Ukiyo-e and art to participate equally in culture with the upper classes. Woodblock printing has been around since the eighth century, but developments began in the 1760s. Early Ukiyo-e in the late 17th century were limited in color and mainly featured people. Over time, Ukiyo-e became vibrant, capturing landscapes, animals, and stories.
There are many categories of Ukiyo-e, specifically Musha-e, Kodomo-e, Fukei-ga, and Yakusha-e. Musha-e prints portray military generals, samurai, battles, and heroic characters. Kodomo-e prints show children or family life and children’s stories. Kodomo-e Fukei-ga are prints of natural landscapes, showing Japan's different seasons and diverse terrain. Yakusha-e images are of Kabuki actors and Kabuki theater, a traditional Japanese theater that mixes performance with music.
Some popular Ukiyo-e artists are Katsushika Hokusai and Utagawa Hiroshige. Hokusai is considered the most influential of all Ukiyo-e artists, illustrating novels and coining the term “manga” to describe picture books. Hokusai is most famous for “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” from his series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji. This print is easily the most recognizable today, appearing widely in popular culture. Hiroshige is another important figure, illustrating the beauty of Japan in his travels. He issued the Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido, Sixty-Nine Stations of the Kisokaido Road, and One Hundred Famous Views of Edo.
Ukiyo-e has an undoubtedly large impact on Japanese culture and art, preserving traditions of the Edo period. Ukiyo-e also influenced impressionist artists like Van Gogh and Monet in a movement called “Japonism.” Ukiyo-e’s impact is felt worldwide, influencing art, culture, and media.
