65 - Masanobu: Murasaki Shikibu

Masanobu: Murasaki Shikibu

Okumura Masanobu (1686-1764) was one of the earliest ukiyo-e masters. He experimented with style, motive, perspective, format, and technique. Posterity has not given him the attention he deserves. His works definitely influenced subsequent ukiyo-e.

This print is: Murasaki Shikibu, from the series Ukiyo-e Genji, created about 1710.

Murasaki Shikibu was a lady of nobility. She wrote what is often considered the world's first novel, The Tale of Genji [源氏物語, Genji Monogatari], written sometime between 1000 and 1012 AD.

64 - Gekkō: Carp in the Tone River

Gekkō: Carp in the Tone River

Carp in the Tone River is a print by Ogata Gekkō. It is taken from the series Famous Views and Beautiful Women.

63 - Yoshitsuya: Shuten Dōji's Head Attacking Raiko's Band of Warriors

Yoshitsuya: Shuten Dōji's Head Attacking Raiko's Band of Warriors

Shuten-dōji is a mythical creature, a yokai and an oni leader residing in Ooe-yama (Mount Ooe). He is sometimes considered one of the "great three evil yokai". There are severel different stories about his ancestry, birth and life, but he is inherently evil. The emperor in Kyoto wants him killed and sends the legendary samurai Minamoto "Raiko" Yorimitsu to defeat Shuten-dōji. Raiko gives Shuten-dōji poisoned sake, and when he drinks he falls asleep and his head is cut off. The cut-off head, however, is still alive and tries to bite Raiko, who finally wins with the help of a magical helmet.

This print is Shuten Dōji's Head Attacking Raiko's Band of Warriors, from 1858. The artist is Utagawa Yoshitsuya (1822-1866).

62 - Utamaro II: Benzaiten Playing Lute

Utamaro II: Benzaiten Playing Lute

Kitagawa Utamaro II, (1753?-1831?) first called himself Koikawa Shunsho, but adopted the name Kitagawa Utamaro II when his teacher, the first Utamaro, died. He also married his teacher's widow.

Utamaro II continued to create prints in the style of his predecessor, and even signed them in the same way. Today it is impossible to say with certainty where the first Utamaro ends and the second starts.

I like this little black and white print by Utamaro II, Benzaiten Playing Lute. Colour would just be a distraction from the graceful lines.

The musical instrument is a biwa, a traditional Japanese lute, commonly associated with Benzaiten, the goddess of music.

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.