Tag: woodblock printings

5 items for Japanese style interior decoration

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Traditional upholstery you need to make your room Japanese style interior     It might be nice to make it a Japanese-style interior boldly when you decide to move to a new room or rearrange a room. But, even though you think that you will make that room, you may not know what to prepare. So, I will introduce interior equipments which are necessary for making a Japanese style room for you!       Tatami mat     Actually, when you place the Tatami mat, the atmosphere of the room is greatly close to the Japanese style room. The smell of rush makes you feel fresh. Of course, you have Read more about 5 items for Japanese style interior decoration[…]

Japanese samurai warrior woodblock prints (musha-e of ukiyo-e)

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The heros for the people of Edo with ukiyo-e woodblock prints Kabuki and ukiyo-e are the amenities for the townspeople in Edo period (1603-1683). Samurai and ancient battle were one of the popular themes of the theatrical performance and woodblock printing. The stories of samurai made them excited and grieved same as today.    Though there were countless ukiyo-e artists in Edo period, not all of them drew the pictures of samurai, musha-e (武者絵). The only artists who were good at expressing their bravery and painfulness with impressive pictures. Especially Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798-1861) and his disciple Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892).      The ukiyo-e woodblock prints of samurai (musha-e)     Okumura Masanobu Read more about Japanese samurai warrior woodblock prints (musha-e of ukiyo-e)[…]

Hokusai Manga (Sketch) ukiyo-e book by Katsushika Hokusai

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“Hokusai Manga” which influenced Impressionist     The sketch for the pupils but… When Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) was 52 years old, he drew more than 300 sketches at his pupil’s home. And the publisher Eirakudo published the first “Hokusai Manga” in 1814. Though Hokusai intended to show his art technique for his pupils, the book became popular also among the people.         The series of “Hokusai Manga” had been published up to 15 volumes even after Hokusai died until 1878. The number of the sketches are about 4000.    Learn about Katsushika Hokusai’s biography and facts                   “Manga” means comic Read more about Hokusai Manga (Sketch) ukiyo-e book by Katsushika Hokusai[…]

Check the woodblock prints of Kawase Hasui with posters on Amazon

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Outstanding woodblock artist Kawase Hasui   Kawase Hasui (1883-1957) is an ukiyo-e artist, woodblock printmaker in Taisho and Showa Period in Japan. His real name is Kawase Bunjiro.   He was one of the artists who established Shin-hanga (new ukiyo-e woodblock prints) including Yoshida Hiroshi, Ito Shinsui, Takahashi Shotei, and Tsuchiya Koitsu. They worked artistic activity to revive the declined Japanese ukiyo-e.  He expresses Japanese beautiful landscapes richly and people call him as “Travelling mood poet” “Travelling Printmaker” “Utagawa Hiroshige of Showa”. Hasui gets a high evaluation abroad rather than in the country. Of course, Katsushika Hokusai or Utagawa Hiroshige is famous in Japan but the many Japanese people don’t know Read more about Check the woodblock prints of Kawase Hasui with posters on Amazon[…]

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

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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 people’s living in late 16th century.     After that, the themes of ukiyoe expanded to popular kabuki actors, beautiful women and landscapes. “ukiyo” （浮世） means contemporary with hedonisitic and fleeting idea, so ukiyo-e translated as picture of floating world.               Sponsored Links             Read more about Learn about ukiyo-e woodblock! Definition, history, famous artists and prints[…]

Ukiyo-e artist Katsushika Hokusai:biography, facts, and artworks

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Katsushika Hokusai who created the famous great wave painting Katsushika Hokusai must be the most famous Japanese woodblock printing (ukiyo-e) artist around the world. How to pronounce “Katsushika Hokusai”   His art works of images including The Great Off Kanagawa (The Great Wave) and other prints of “Thirty-Six Views of Mount. Fuji” influenced Western artists Vincent van Gogh, Edgar Degas and Henri Rivière.           His printmaking works still have inspired the artists and the creators. In 1960, celebrating his 200th birth anniversary, he was honored as the cultural master in the world.(learn about Japanese painting by the early modern)           In 1760, Katsushika Hokusai was born in Honjo, Edo. Read more about Ukiyo-e artist Katsushika Hokusai:biography, facts, and artworks[…]

All ’53 Stages on the Tokaido’ art prints by Utagawa Hiroshige is here

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The masterpiece arts of Utagawa Hiroshige, “Fifty-Three Stages on the Tokaido”   Utagawa (Ando) Hiroshige led the field of landscape printing in ukiyo-e. Especially, “Fifty-Three Stages on the Tokaido” is one of the most highly regarded woodblock printings series in Japanese art.                       When he started to draw the paintings around 1833, “Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji” , by the most famous ukiyo-e artist Katsushika Hokusai, depicted the Japanese symbolic mountain was had dominated ukiyo-e market.   Thanks in partly to the popularity of the landscape printings, “Fifty-Three Stages on the Tokaido” really rang the bell and he became the sought-after artist in Edo Period.   Read more about All ’53 Stages on the Tokaido’ art prints by Utagawa Hiroshige is here[…]

Three beauties of the present day

Three Beauties of the Present Day (Tôji san bijin) by Kitagawa Utamaro

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Famous Three Beauties of the Present Day ukiyo-e artwork by Kitagawa Utamaro   In the world of ukiyo-e, Kitagawa Utamaro (1753-1806) had no equal with beautiful woman portrait (bijinga). Especially, “Three beauties of the present day” is one of the most important works.   Learn about Kitagawa Utamaro   “The present day” means Kansei Period (1789～1801) of Edo Era when Utamaro was active. It is common to call the print as “Three beauties of Kansei” in Japan.    The popular bijinga is thought to be created in 1793. The three girls were so famous for their beauty around Edo city, from left to right, Ohisa, Toyohina, and Okita.   They look alike? Exactly. Read more about Three Beauties of the Present Day (Tôji san bijin) by Kitagawa Utamaro[…]

"Otani Oniji as Yakko Edobei" Toshusai Sharaku kabuki woodblock printing

Sharaku’s Otani Oniji and Ichikawa Omezo ukiyo-e prints

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Famous Japanese kabuki actor woodblock print, “Otani Oniji as Edobei” by Toshusai Sharaku When it comes to talking about Toshusai Sharaku (?-?), we can hardly discuss without taking the bold woodblock print into account. The name of the artwork is “Otani Oniji as Edobei”. More precisely, the actor is Otani Oniji Ⅲ (1759–96). Thought it is a common saying that his fingers are really awkward and small compared with the size of the face, but the extreme deformation makes the screen impressive.  The program that the actor played the part of Edobei is “Koinyobo Somewake Tazuna” (「恋女房染分手綱」) at Kawarasaki Theater in May 1794. Like other ukiyo-e artists who drew a kabuki actor portrait, Sharaku Read more about Sharaku’s Otani Oniji and Ichikawa Omezo ukiyo-e prints[…]

Light rain at Shono art woodblock print by Utagawa Hiroshige

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Shono, the evening squall from “Fifty-three stages on Tokaido” series   The print is one of the most popular artworks in “Fifty-three Stages on Tokaido” by Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858) as well as Kambara, the snow in the night.    The themes of Kambara, the snow in night are snow, silence, and winter. On the other hand, the world of Shono, the evening squall is rain, uproar, and summer.   The silhouette of the bamboo trees on the background has a gradation and lean to left-side. That shows the strength of rain and wind.   Hiroshige drew the lines of the shower from the upper right of the screen askew. And the steep slope crosses the lines at Read more about Light rain at Shono art woodblock print by Utagawa Hiroshige[…]