Japanese Ukiyo-e Appreciation · Issue 1: Beauties and Courtesan Paintings (Part 2)

Author: Wu Guiyu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-10-01
Features: Ukiyo-e, referring to the genre of folk paintings from the Edo period of Japan. The term "ukiyo" originates from Buddhist language, meaning the myriad phenomena of the world, or the social realities of the eye and ear. In the late 17th century, it was adopted by Japanese scholars in the field of art, giving rise to ukiyo-e. The production method of ukiyo-e involved first creating more expensive ink paintings, followed by the emergence of the widely known woodblock prints. Ukiyo-e includes folk paintings centered on beautiful women, artist paintings depicting Kabuki actors, as well as landscapes, flowers, birds, insects, grasses, and plants. Among these, the beautiful women paintings and artist paintings are considered the two major themes of ukiyo-e, renowned for their unique charm and widely preserved in major museums around the world. Katsushika Hokusai (1758-1806) was an outstanding master of ukiyo-e and the grandmaster of beautiful women paintings in Japan. His emergence marked the golden age of beautiful women paintings. His works include full-body portraits of plump and beautiful women, close-ups of facial features, and detailed depictions of the curious lives of courtesans in brothels during the Edo period. Whether it was the luxurious courtesans or the impoverished ones who begged on the streets, this artist skillfully portrayed their distinct inner natures and vastly different circumstances through meticulous character portrayals and clever combinations of poses, leaving viewers in awe.