Katsushika Hokusai

Learn about ukiyo-e woodblock! Definition, history, famous artists and prints

What is a “ukiyo-e”? An introduction to Japanese woodblock printing Ukiyo-e  (pronounciation:uː.ˈki.oʊ.ˌeɪ, uːˌkiːjəʊˈeɪ. 浮世絵 in kanji) is essential field in Japanese art . The art never developed without the common people of the Edo Period.   Sponsored Links   It is said that the beginning of the ukiyo-e, the Japanese art of woodblock printings, is the pictures of Kyoto …

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Katsushika Hokusai’s original Phoenix painting in Obuse City

The painting of Phoenix that glares in all directions by Katsushika Hokusai In 1843, a great painter visited the small village Obuse in Shinshu (today’s Nagano Prefecture). The place where you can see the painting of Phoenix even today.  Hokusai and Obuse The great painter was Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849). He was 83 years old at that time. …

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The ukiyo-e museums in Tokyo.

Art museums exhibiting Japanese wood prints in Tokyo There are about 1100 museums in Japan, but not many places to do a permanent exhibition of ukiyo-e. Meanwhile, some individual or public museums in Tokyo constantly exhibit ukiyo-e.     This museum has about 14,000 ukiyo-e prints such as Katsushika Hokusai, Kitagawa Utamaro, Utagawa Hiroshige, including about 12,000 pieces collected …

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Hokusai’s waterfalls ukiyo-e artworks and the art prints for sale

“A Tour of the Waterfalls of the Provinces” (諸国瀧廻り) Just after the success of  “Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji”, popular ukiyo-e artist among Edo people, Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) produced the famous waterfalls ukiyo-e series “A Tour of the Waterfalls of the Provinces” from 1833 to 1837. When he drew the pitcures, he used the name of “former Hokusai and …

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Hokusai’s horror ghosts artworks (ukiyo-e)

The series of “A hundred horror stories” prints Katsushika Hokusai  (1760-1849) began to deal with “A hundred horror stories” (Hyaku-monogatari/百物語) in 1831. He used the painting name of “Iitsu” (為一) as the signature. Hyakumonogatari was the traditional way of a gathering to speak and hear ghost stories.  As the title represents, he and the publisher …

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Japanese wave arts “Oceans of Wisdom” by Katsushika Hokusai

The Japanese wave arts of “Oceans of Wisdom “(One Thousand Images of the Sea) After the finish of “Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji” (富嶽三十六景), the star ukiyo-e artist Katsushika Hokusai started the new series of the Japanese wave arts “One Thousand Images of the Sea” (Oceans of Wisdom,千絵の海) in 1833.  He had mainly depicted the combination of …

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Utagawa Hiroshige: biography and woodblock print artworks

Biography of Utagawa(Ando) Hiroshige(1797-1858)     The outstanding ukiyo-e artist, Utagawa (Ando) Hiroshige<歌川(安藤) 広重> was born in 1797 as the son of the official fire fighter Ando Gen-emon. His landscape woodblock printings took many Edo citizens all over Japan. However, he was not from the class of tradesmen and artisans.       Ando family belonged to the class …

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