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.

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).