95 - Unknown Artist: 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.

94 - Hokuba: Bijinga

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.

93 - Kyōsai: Drawing of a Travelling Couple

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.

92 – Shunsen: Kingfisher on Bamboo

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.

91 - Tsukimaro: Kintarō Fighting with an Eagle

Tsukimaro: Kintarō Fighting with an Eagle

 
This is a surimono, Kintarō Fighting with an Eagle, by Kitagawa Tsukimaro.

You can read more about Kintarō here.

90 - Chikanobu: A group of bijin look out over a snow-covered garden

Chikanobu: A group of bijin look out over a snow-covered garden

A beautiful triptych by Toyohara Chikanobu, A group of bijin look out over a snow-covered garden, from 1893. It is a combination of bijinga and landscape.

89 - Sharaku: Nakamura Nakazo II as Prince Koretaka...

Sharaku: Nakamura Nakazo II as Prince Koretaka...

This is a typical example of the genius of Tōshūsai Sharaku: Nakamura Nakazo II as Prince Koretaka disguised as the Farmer Tsuchizo in the Play Intercalary Year Praise of a Famous Poem. In a sense, the portrait, which was created in 1795, has three layers. It shows an actor, playing a prince who plays a farmer. And all of them are visible in this face. This ability to catch many individuals in one is what makes Sharaku one of the greatest ukiyo-e masters.