Saturday, 30 December 2017

96 - Yoshiyuki: Hido Hachiro holding a head


Ukiyo-e. Yoshiyuki. Hido Hachiro.
Yoshiyuki: Hido Hachiro holding a head

This shows Hido Hachiro holding a head, a print from about 1868 by Mori Yoshiyuki (1835-1879). The scene is from Mirror of Our Country’s Military Elegance [Honchô buyû kagami, 本朝武優鏡].


Saturday, 23 December 2017

95 - Unknown Artist: Uki-e


Ukiyo-e. Uki-e.
Unknown Artist: Uki-e

In this picture, perspective is used to create a sense of depth. Such a picture is called an uki-e. The first Japanese artist to apply uki-e in nishiki-e, that is, using perspective in a full colour woodblock print, was Toyoharu, the founder of the Utagawa school. This picture, however, is a painting and the artist is unknown. It is probably from the end of the 18th century.

The motive is a puppet performance.

If you look carefully to the right, you'll see that there is something wrong with the perspective. The artist has made a mistake.


Saturday, 16 December 2017

94 - Hokuba: Bijinga


Ukiyo-e. Bijinga. Painting. Hokuba.
Hokuba: Bijinga

This is a painting on silk, a kakemono, by Teisai Hokuba (1771-1844). A beautiful bijinga from the 1830s.

Hokuba was one of Hokusai's best students.


Saturday, 9 December 2017

93 - Kyōsai: Drawing of a Travelling Couple


Ukiyo-e. Drawing. Kyosai.
Kyōsai: Drawing of a Traveling Couple

Here we see a fine drawing by Kawanabe Kyōsai (1831-1889), A Travelling Couple. It is from about 1880 and shows what a versatile artist Kyōsai was.


Saturday, 2 December 2017

92 – Shunsen: Kingfisher on Bamboo


Ukiyo-e. Kachô-e. Aizuri-e. Shunsen.
Shunsen: Kingfisher on Bamboo
 
Here we have a kachô-e, Kingfisher on Bamboo. It is also an aizuri-e, that is to say that the only colour is blue.

Katsukawa Shunsen (1762 - about 1830) also called himself Shunkō II when he succeeded Shunkō I as the head of the Katsukawa school.