61 - Toyoharu: Act VII (Shichidanme)

Toyoharu: Act VII (Shichidanme)

Utagawa Toyoharu (1735?-1814) founded the later so successful Utagawa school. Among its many members, were, for instance, Hiroshige, Kunisada and Kuniyoshi.

A print using perspective to create a sense of depth is called uki-e. Toyoharu was the first to apply perspective in nishiki-e (full colour print). Here we see one example of his uki-e: Act VII (Shichidanme), from the series Perspective Pictures of the Storehouse of Loyal Retainers (Uki-e Kanadehon Chûshingura).

60 - Kiyonaga: Actor Onoe Matsusuke Playing the Shamisen, with a Courtesan and a Kamuro

Kiyonaga: Actor Onoe Matsusuke Playing the Shamisen, with a Courtesan and a Kamuro
1782

When Torii Kiyonaga (1782-1815) became the head of the Torii School, he changed ukiyo-e by fusing different traditions. Mainly the Katsukawa School, Harunobu's style, and, of course, his own Torii School. He summed up ukiyo-e so far and set the direction for its development in the following years.

His style appears naturalistic, but in a graceful manner. Kiyonaga is one of the really great woodblock masters, especially when it comes to bijinga. But of course he also made kabuki prints, yakusha-e. The Torii school nearly had monopoly on printed matter for the kabuki theatres.

This print from 1782 is Actor Onoe Matsusuke Playing the Shamisen, with a Courtesan and a Kamuro.

59 - Yoshitoshi: Uesugi Kenshin Nyudo Terutora Riding into Battle

Yoshitoshi: Uesugi Kenshin Nyudo Terutora Riding into Battle

This week we will look at another print by Yoshitoshi: Uesugi Kenshin Nyudo Terutora Riding into Battle. This print feels very modern, just look at the frontal perspective. However, it is from 1883.

Uesugi Kenshin (1530-1578) was a powerful daimyō and warrior of his time.

A daimyō was a feudal lord of old Japan, who, in practice, ruled his own land, and were subordinate only to the Shōgun.

58 - Nobukazu: Beauties Viewing Moon

Nobukazu: Beauties Viewing Moon, about 1890

A bijinga in the form of a triptych by Watanabe Nobukazu: Beauties Viewing the Moon, from about 1890.

57 - The Kanbun Master: Shunga from Yoshiwara Pillow Pictures

The Kanbun Master: Shunga from Yoshiwara Pillow Pictures

This print is an example of Shunga, erotic motives, although it is quite innocent and not as explicit as many later Shunga works. The artist is interesting; it is the Kanbun Master, active about 1660-1673. His identity is unknown, but he is considered a direct precursor to ukiyo-e. He was mentor to Hiskikawa Moronobu, who is generally considered as the first ukiyo-e artist.

This shunga is from a book, Yoshiwara Pillow Pictures.