Japanese Ukiyo-e Appreciation Series 2: Performing Arts Painting (1)

Author: Utagawa Hirokuni
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-10-01
Features: Actor Print – Woodblock prints depicting Kabuki actors. Together with "Beauty Print," they are the two major themes of Ukiyo-e. Ukiyo-e refers 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 one sees and hears. In the late 17th century, it was adopted by Japanese scholars and artists, giving rise to Ukiyo-e. The production of Ukiyo-e began with more expensive ink paintings, followed by the widely recognized woodblock prints. Ukiyo-e includes folk paintings centered on beauties, actor prints depicting Kabuki actors, as well as landscapes, flowers, birds, insects, plants, and animals. Among these, the two major themes of Ukiyo-e—Beauty Print and Actor Print—have unique charm, attracting worldwide attention and being widely collected by major museums around the world.