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Ukiyoe
Ukiyoe are paintings developed in the Edo period (1603~1867),
and most of them became widespread as wood block prints. The name comes from the
fact that many showed the ukiyo (dreamlike world) of the theater and
pleasure quarters.
They began in the 1670's when Hishikawa Moronobu discovered a way to
make monochromic wood block prints. At first, only India ink was used, but in
the 18th century Suzuki Harunobu developed the technique of printing with
several colors.
In addition to the human subjects of ukiyoe (beautiful women, actors
and sumo wrestlers), landscapes and the living conditions of the common people
were also illustrated. Famous among these are the prints of beautiful women by Kitagawa
Utamaro, kabuki actors by Toshusai Sharaku and landscapes by
Katsushika
Hokusai ("Thirty-six views of Mt. Fuji") and Ando Hiroshige
("Fifty-three stations on the Tokaidou").
Many ukiyoe pictures were taken to Europe in the late 19th century. They had
a strong influence on Van Gogh, Manet and other Impressionists and resulted in
the development of the new technique of realism.
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