Wednesday 2 May 2018

Message

For a number of different reasons, I have decided to wind up the blogs Ukiyo-e of the Week and Japankonst. That is, I'm not going to publish new material. However, until further notice, they will remain available as works of reference and inspiration.

Saturday 24 March 2018

108 - Shunsen: Geisha entertaining a client at a teahouse garden


Ukiyo-e. Shunsen.
Shunsen: Geisha entertaining a client at a teahouse garden

Here is a scene from Japan at the time, Geisha entertaining a client at a teahouse garden, by Katsukawa Shunsen. This work is from the first decade of the 1800s.


Saturday 17 March 2018

107 - Shigeharu: Nakamura Utaemon III as Shōki


Ukiyo-e. Shigeharu. Shōki.
Shigeharu: Nakamura Utaemon III as Shōki


This is a yakusha-e from 1822-1826, which shows actor Nakamura Utaemon III as Shōki. It is from the series Seven Quick Changes (Shichihenge no uchi) by Ryusai Shigeharu, who lived 1802-1853.

Shōki, the Demon Queller, was a protector against demons and disease. Here he is red, in that colour he protected against smallpox.

Saturday 10 March 2018

106 - Hiroshige: Matching the World and Music


Ukiyo-e. Hiroshige.
Hiroshige: Matching the World and Music

This is a rare and beautiful triptych by Hiroshige. The name of the print is Onkyoku sekai awase (Matching the World and Music). It was published 1849-1850.


Saturday 3 March 2018

105 - Ginkô: Disguised as Woman


Ukiyo-e. Ginkô. Abbreviated Japanese History.
Ginkô: Disguised as Woman

Here we have Disguised as Woman by Adachi Ginkô. It is from his most famous series: "Pictorial Outline of Japanese History (Dainippon shiryaku zue)",  published 1885-1889.

Saturday 24 February 2018

104 - Chikanobu: The brave wife of Shinozuka Iga no Kami standing on the bank of a lake


Ukiyo-e. Chikanobu.
Chikanobu: The brave wife of Shinozuka Iga no Kami standing on the bank of a lake


This is "The brave wife of Shinozuka Iga no Kami standing on the bank of a lake", by Toyohara Chikanobu. The print is from1866.

Shinozuka Iga no Kami was a retainer of the Nitta no Yoshisada and the Nitta clan. His wife's name was Iga no Tsubone.


Saturday 17 February 2018

103 - Gakutei: Carp


Ukiyo-e. Gakutei. Carp.
Gakutei: Carp

This is Carp, a beautiful painting by Yashima Gakutei (1786-1868) from 1818-1830. Gakutei, technically a very skilled artist, was one of Hokusai's students.