Japanese woodblock prints and watercolors from the 17th to the 20th centuries are known as ukiyo-e. Landscapes, everyday scenes from city life, stylized scenes from Japanese cities’ pleasure quarters, and scenes from Japanese history and folklore are all depicted in many ukiyo-e. Many art lovers consider these distinctive woodblock prints to be quite beautiful, and they can be found in numerous galleries and museums around the world. Bound books with collections of some of the best ukiyo-e are also available, and many of these books are works of art in and of themselves.
Ukiyo-e means “pictures of the floating world” in Japanese. During the Edo period, when Japan experienced a period of relative peace, the term “floating world” was coined to describe the insular, carefree, and pleasure-seeking world of Japanese cities. As Japan’s cities grew more developed, a new class of artisans and artists emerged, allowing ukiyo-e to flourish.
Early ukiyo-e were only done in black ink and occasionally hand-colored with watercolors. The world of ukiyo-e grew significantly with the development of color printing processes, and these prints became available to people from all walks of life in Japan. ukiyo-e was also used to illustrate books and promote various events and venues, and merchants in particular could purchase prints to decorate their homes and businesses.
Hiroshige and Hokusai are two well-known masters of the art, known for their often ethereal, haunting woodblock prints. In Japan, a master and apprentice system for woodblock printing was established fairly early on, with named masters attracting apprentices who wanted to learn from the best in the field. Some artisans concentrated on specific themes, such as geisha, kabuki actors, and sumo wrestlers, or Japan’s diverse landscape.
Modern Japanese woodblocks and watercolors are also considered ukiyo-e by some, especially when they depict real-life Japan in a stylized manner. Others believe that ukiyo-e was only produced in Japan during the Edo and Meiji periods, and that a new term should be coined to refer to more modern works, reflecting the massive shift in Japanese culture that occurred in the twentieth century, when Japan became much more open to the West while grappling with its cultural and collective identity.