Saturday, 28 October 2017

87 - Harunobu: Woman Visiting the Shrine in the Night


Ukiyo-e. Bijinga. Harunobu.
Harunobu: Woman Visiting the Shrine in the Night

Another bijinga from one of the greatest ukiyo-e masters, Suzuki Harunobu.


Saturday, 21 October 2017

86 - Sadanobu II: Portrait of Saigō Takamori


Ukiyo-e. Sadanobu II. Portrait. Saigō Takamori.
Sadanobu II: Portrait of Saigō Takamori

In 1877, Sadanobu II made this portrait of Saigō Takamori.

Saigō Takamori, called the last true samurai, was the leader of the Satsuma Rebellion, which lasted between January and September in 1877.

Sadanobu II was active between 1867 and the 1880s.


Saturday, 14 October 2017

85 - Shigenobu: Kachô-e


Ukiyo-e. Kacho-e. Yanagawa Shigenobu.
Yanagawa Shigenobu: Kachô-e, Title unknown

This beautiful kachô-e is created by Yanagawa Shigenobu (1787-1832), who was one of Hokusai's students, later adopted as his son.


Saturday, 7 October 2017

84 - Eisen: Ono no Komachi – A Shy Girl


Ukiyo-e. Okubi-e. Eisen.
Eisen: A shy girl
 
Keisai Eisen (1790-1848) is especially known for his okubi-e. With him, the style is changing. Classical bijinga is over, and he enters new realms. The pictures become less ethereal.

This is an okubi-e, a print from about 1820: Ono no Komachi – A Shy Girl.

Saturday, 30 September 2017

83 - Hokusai: E-goyomi


Ukiyo-e. Hokusai. Surimono. E-goyomi.
Hokusai: E-goyomi

Hokusai, one of the greatest ukiyo-e masters, made this e-goyomi in January 1792.

The printing of calendars was a government monopoly in Japan. By that forbidden to create calendars, the ukiyo-e artists developed the subgenre of e-goyomi. Literally it means "calendar print" - but, not to violate the monopoly, they had to conceal the calendar in the picture in some clever way.


Saturday, 23 September 2017

82 - Kunisada II: Actor Bandô Mitsuemon as Akaiwa Gajirô


Ukiyo-e. Yakusha-e. Kunisada II. The Book of the Eight Dog Heroes.
Kunisada II: Actor Bandô Mitsuemon as Akaiwa Gajirô

Here we have Bandô Mitsuemon as Akaiwa Gajirô, from the series The Book of the Eight Dog Heroes [Hakkenden inu no sôshi no uchi] from 1852. The creator is Utagawa Kunisada II (1823-1880), who was one of Vincent Van Gogh's favourite artists.


Saturday, 16 September 2017

81 - Shigemasa: Servant Applying Medicinal Substance to Geisha's Arm


Ukiyo-e. Shigemasa. Geisha.
Shigemasa: Servant Applying Medicinal Substance to Geisha's Arm

Kitao Shigemasa (1739?-1820) was not only a printmaker, he also created poetry and was a skilled calligrapher.

This is a beautiful print, Servant Applying Medicinal Substance to Geisha's Arm.