Pictures of the Floating World (Ukiyo-e)

Ukiyo-e, translated as Pictures of the Floating World.
Ukiyo-e is a genre of Japanese woodblock prints and paintings produced between the 17th and the 20th centuries.
Ukiyo-e is the main artistic genre of woodblock printing in Japan.

Usually, the word Ukiyo is literally translated as "Floating World" in English, referring to a conception of an Evanescent world, impernament, fleeting beauty and a realm of entertainments (Kabuki, courtesans, geisha) divorced from the responsibilities of the mundane, every day world.
Pictures of the Floating World Ukiyo-e are considered a genre unto themselves.

Quote by Asai Ryöi:

... living only for the moment, turning our full attention to the pleasures of the moon, the snow, the cherry blossoms and the maple leaves, singing songs, drinking wine, diverting ourselves in just floating, floating... refusing to be disheartened, like a gourd floating along with the river current... this is what we call the floating world...

Ukiyo-e were affordable because they could be mass- produced.
They were mainly ment for townsmen, who were generally not wealthy enough to afford an original painting.
The original subject of Ukiyo-e was city life, in particular activities and scenes from the entertainment district.
Beautiful courtesans, bulky sumo wrestlers and popular actors would be portrayed while engaged in appealing activities.
Later on landscapes also became popular.
Political subjects, and idividuals above the lowest strata of society (courtesans, wrestlers and actors) were not sanctioned in these prints and very rarely appeared.
Sex was not a sanctioned subject either, but continually appeared in Ukiyu-e prints.
Artists and publishers were sometimes punished for creating these sexually explicit shunga.

Utamaro, Hokusai, Hiroshige and Sharaku were the prominent artists of this beautiful art.

link to Ukiyo-e http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukiyo-e

link to playlist of Ukiyo-e http://www.youtube.com/user/meesterschilders#grid/user/D863FBDE73114244

Music: Duff Solo, performed by Anello Capuano
http://www.anello-capuano.com/

Images used:

Hokusai Katsukika - Dragon
Ando Hiroshige - Fuji vieuw
Ando Hiroshige - Boats in an Inlet
Ando Hiroshige - Men poling boats
Ando Hiroshige - Boats on a Lake
Kitagawa Utamaro - O-Hisha, O-Kita and O-Hina
Kitagawa Utamaro - A Beauty
Shunko Katsukawa - Tsurunosuke
Utagawa Yoshitora - Bando Mitsugoro
Kabukido Enkoyo - Ichikawa Omezo
Kabukido Enkoyo - Portrait of Nakayama
Utagawa Kuniaki - Nakamura Shikan
Utagawa Kunisada - The Ghost
Utagawa Kunisada - The Spectre
Tsukioka Yoshitoshi - Inaba mountain moon
Utagawa Toyokumi - Kondanji Ichikawa
Kitagawa Utamaro - O-Kita of Naniwaya
Tsukioka Yoshitoshi - Fuzoku Sanjuniso
Utagawa Kunisada - Snow

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• ukiyo-e
• pictures
• of
• the
• floating
• world
• japanese
• woodblock
• prints
• and
• paintings
• kabuki
• courtesans
• geisha
• edo
• to
• meiji
• period
• utamaro
• hokusai
• hiroshige
• sharaku
• ukiyoe

[AthenaAndMau]

There was an exhibition in Dublin in 2003 called The Art of Hokusai. Well it was amazing to see some of his works from life...they are so beautiful. Reproductions unfortunately can't show the sheer beauty of the art form Ukiyo-e. Thank you for sharing!!

[halynamyroslava]

Wonderful

Nice to hear and watch

Thank you a lot

Happy weekend!

[Lamelonbanana]

Your editorial technique gives Ukiyoe another world, thank you !

The beggining of music reminds me of Kabuki 's Obake ( in a haunted house )

[UntitledArts]

Absolutely awesome !

Many thanks for the upload

[ameliavavalli]

Video interessantissimo, lo aggiungo ai preferiti

Grazie Amelia

[tuandaluza]

Love it!! 5*, dear meesters!!!!!

[57francesca]

Wonderful paintings and music...thanks Chris!

[DistantMirrors]

Great collection,I love the colours.Thank you!

[bestjonbon]

What a super dragon to start things off. Then those great vivid woodcuts. This is a delight for the eyes.

[sabhti]

Que bellisimas ilustraciones querida amiga y que buenas presentaciones haces...fantastico!!.

La música muy linda.

Hugs.