Ukiyo-e

Ukiyo-e

The art of ukiyo-e ("pictures of the floating world"), originated in the metropolitan culture of Edo (Tokyo) during the period of Japanese history, when the political and military power was in the hands of the shoguns, and the country was virtually isolated from the rest of the world. It is an art closely connected with the pleasures of theatres, restaurants, teahouses, geisha and courtesans in the even then very large city. Many ukiyo-e prints by artists like Utamaro and Sharaku were in fact posters, advertising theatre performances and brothels, or idol portraits of popular actors and beautiful teahouse girls. But this more or less sophisticated world of urban pleasures was also animated by the traditional Japanese love of nature, and ukiyo-e artists like Hokusai and Hiroshige have had an enormous impact on landscape painting all over the world.

Ukiyo-e were affordable because they could be mass-produced. They were mainly meant for townsmen, who were generally not wealthy enough to afford an original painting. The original subject of ukiyo-e was city life, in particular activities and scenes from the entertainment district. Beautiful courtesans, bulky sumo wrestlers and popular actors would be portrayed while engaged in appealing activities. Later on landscapes also became popular. Political subjects, and individuals above the lowest strata of society (courtesans, wrestlers and actors) were not sanctioned in these prints and very rarely appeared. Sex was not a sanctioned subject either, but continually appeared in ukiyo-e prints. Artists and publishers were sometimes punished for creating these sexually explicit shunga.

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Takasago Beach

Takasago Beach

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Fuji from Izu (Izu no Fuji)

Fuji from Izu (Izu no Fuji)

$117.05$70.2340% off
Promulgation of the Constitution

Promulgation of the Constitution

$119.34$71.6040% off
The Theater Outing

The Theater Outing

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Head of a Beauty

Head of a Beauty

$123.93$74.3640% off
The Salt Dragon

The Salt Dragon

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Mother and Boy with Ice

Mother and Boy with Ice

$146.12$87.6740% off
Surimono

Surimono

$127.76$76.6540% off
Tea Things

Tea Things

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Evening glow at Ryogoku Bridge

Evening glow at Ryogoku Bridge

$120.87$72.5240% off
White Elephant and Animals

White Elephant and Animals

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Hiratsuka Station

Hiratsuka Station

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Sumo wrestlers

Sumo wrestlers

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Still-Life with Monkey Mask

Still-Life with Monkey Mask

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Kogiku

Kogiku

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Roses (Bara Shou Kin Zu)

Roses (Bara Shou Kin Zu)

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Oiso

Oiso

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Tiger

Tiger

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Evening Bell at Mii-dera Temple

Evening Bell at Mii-dera Temple

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R

R

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No. 44, Magome Station

No. 44, Magome Station

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Settyu kinkeizu

Settyu kinkeizu

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Katsuyama of the Matsubaya

Katsuyama of the Matsubaya

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Rousho oumuzu

Rousho oumuzu

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Tiger Carrying Armor

Tiger Carrying Armor

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Shuto gunjakuzu

Shuto gunjakuzu

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Numazu: Senju of the ?sakaya

Numazu: Senju of the ?sakaya

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