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Japanese Woodblock
Prints by Hiroshige (1797-1858) Ukiyo-e, meaning
'pictures of the floating world', was the most
popular art form of 17th -19th century Japan.
'Ukiyo' was a Buddhist term referring to the
melancholy transience of life. The concept was
punningly altered to mean the fleeting pleasures of
everyday life. Ukiyo-e depicted these pleasures,
primarily through the medium of woodblock
prints. The pleasures
that were most commonly illustrated were: the
theater (Kabuki, Noh, etc); beautiful women; and
the enjoyment of the natural world (landscapes,
nature). Other subjects included current and
historical events, legends, and more. The style began
in the 17th century with simple black and white
prints which were occasionally hand tinted. One or
two color blocks were added to the printing process
during the first half of the 18th century and by
1765 full color printing had developed. By the mid
19th century the printers art had reached its
pinnacle with such subtle innovations as shading of
colors, metallic pigments, and embossing. The
talent and innovation of the 18th-19th century
Japanese artists combined to create color print art
of unsurpassed beauty and technical
merit. Click
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