Who was the man behind the pseudonym "Utamaro"? We know that he was one of the greatest artists of eighteenth-century Japan, and that he was a master portraitist of women in the woodblock-print tradition known as ukiyo-e. But as for the man himself, we know almost nothing. The little there is-gleaned from contemporary books, miscellaneous writings, temple registers-is brought together in this book to present as clear a picture of Utamaro's life as modem researchers are capable of. Utamaro is placed in his cultural setting-the pleasure-loving urban culture of eighteenth-century Tokyo, the shogun's capital and the de facto center of Japan Utamaro's world was that of teahouse girls and courtesans whose fame and popularity can only be compared, in modern terms, to those of a movie actress whose name is on every man's lips. His was a world of popular literature and art, of publishers competing for the work of the most talked-about writers and artists. This world, however, was under the constant scrutiny of the authorities, and near the end of his career, Utamaro fell afoul of the government's proscription of certain subject matter, and he was sentenced to three days in prison and fifty days in hand chains.But Utamaro's life is only one theme of this book. The other is the development of his art, the perfection of his depictions of women that enabled him to capture subtle moods and differences of character. The prints of women produced by the ukiyo-e artists preceding Utamaro showed expressionless beauties of little individuality. It was against this that Utamaro rebelled, creating such prints as that of the kashi, one of the lowest ranking of courtesans-in fact, a mere prostitute. Recognizing within himself the power to see and depict the individual behind the outward appearance, Utamaro added to some of his prints the notation "Studies in Physiognomic Judgment of Character by Utamaro." Modem opinion tends to agree with Utamaro's assessment of himself, and his reputation as an artist of the inner woman has firmly established him in the top ranks of the ukiyo-e world.

Utamaro

Arts & Photography

Kobayashi, Tadashi

History & Criticism

Kodansha USA Inc

Japanese woodblock prints, or ukiyo-e, occupy a singular position in the lexicon of world art. They enthralled such Western artists as Whistler, Manet, Degas, and van Gogh, and gave rise to a wave of "japonisme" in the salons of Paris, London, and New York that left a lasting impression. As the successor to previous aristocratic traditions, the ukiyo-e print represents the last flowering of traditional pictorial art before Japan entered the modern era. These "pictures of the floating world" reflected the world of the townspeople of Edo (Tokyo), focusing on the popular entertainments of the day, landscapes of favored scenic spots, and portraits of well-known geisha, kabuki actors, and sumo stars. The present volume delves into the history of these unique artistic endeavors, tracing their development from the lavish works commissioned by aristocratic patrons in the sixteenth century to their peak in popularity among the rising merchant class of the flourishing future capital. As the story of the genre's blossoming unfolds, Mr. Kobayashi's illuminating commentary on all its varied aspects-styles, artists, engravers, printers, and the demands of an insatiable but fickle public-captures the essence of the art and provides a fascinating glimpse into the culture of old Japan. With the large color plates and numerous detailed close-ups accompanying the text, Ukiyo-e: An Introduction is essential reading for anyone interested in exploring the exotic world of the Japanese print.

Ukiyo-E

An Enduring Vision: 17th to 20th-Century Japanese Painting from the Gitter-Yelen Collection presents 138 exceptional art works by the great masters of the Edo period as well as the paintings of their students, friends, and associates, whose relationships the authors explore and discuss. In addition to those artists mentioned above, the selection includes paintings by Ike Taiga, Sengai, and Tawaraya Sotatsu, among others. The catalogue offers a rare opportunity to appreciate in depth the ways in which these gifted individuals developed as artists.

An Enduring Vision: 17Th- To 20Th-Century Japanese Painting from the Gitter-Yelen Collection

New Orleans Museum of Art

Utamaro: Portraits from the Floating World (Great Japanese art)

R. G. Sawers

Ukiyo-e (Great Japanese art)

Robert G.Sawers Publishing

Japanese woodblock prints, or ukiyo-e, occupy a singular position in world art. These "pictures of the floating world" were created by artists and craftsmen of plebeian or low samurai background. The prints depict scenes from the everyday life and entertainments of the urban classes, and their popularity lay among these same townspeople. Ukiyo-e was successor to previous aristocratic traditions and represents the last flowering of traditional pictorial art before Japan entered the modern era. Outside Japan, it was ukiyo-e that was discovered in the mid-nineteenth century by such artists as Whistler, Manet, Degas, and van Gogh, creating an era of "Japanism" that was to have a lasting effect on the art of the West. The present volume offers a comprehensive survey of the history of ukiyo-e, from its origins in lavish works commissioned by aristocratic patrons in the sixteenth century, through its apogee at the end of the eighteenth, to its decline and demise in the last years of the nineteenth century. Social conditions, printing techniques, styles, artists, engravers, printers, and the tastes of the public itself - all are discussed as the story of ukiyo-e unfolds. In addition to the overview provided in the text, detailed commentaries of the prints and their subjects are provided. As a result, the reader becomes familiar not only with the history of ukiyo-e, an art of universal significance, but also with the colorful urban culture of which it is a remarkable record.

Ukiyo-E: An Introduction to Japanese Woodblock Prints

Other Media

This volume presents the work of Utamaro, the master ukiyo-e portraitist of women. It includes colour reproductions from "Ten Studies of Female Physiognomy" and "Great Love Themes of Classical Poetry".

Utamaro: Portraits from the Floating World (Great Japanese Art Series) (English and Japanese Edition)

Japanese woodblock prints, or ukiyo-e, occupy a singular position in the lexicon of world art. They enthralled such Western artists as Whistler, Manet, Degas, and van Gogh, and gave rise to a wave of "japonisme" in the salons of Paris, London, and New York that left a lasting impression. As the successor to previous aristocratic traditions, the ukiyo-e print represents the last flowering of traditional pictorial art before Japan entered the modern era. These "pictures of the floating world" reflected the world of the townspeople of Edo (Tokyo), focusing on the popular entertainments of the day, landscapes of favored scenic spots, and portraits of well-known geisha, kabuki actors, and sumo stars. The present volume delves into the history of these unique artistic endeavors, tracing their development from the lavish works commissioned by aristocratic patrons in the sixteenth century to their peak in popularity among the rising merchant class of the flourishing future capital. As the story of the genre's blossoming unfolds, Mr. Kobayashi's illuminating commentary on all its varied aspects-styles, artists, engravers, printers, and the demands of an insatiable but fickle public-captures the essence of the art and provides a fascinating glimpse into the culture of old Japan. With the large color plates and numerous detailed close-ups accompanying the text, Ukiyo-e: An Introduction is essential reading for anyone interested in exploring the exotic world of the Japanese print.

Ukiyo-e: An Introduction to Japanese Woodblock Prints

Kodansha USA

Who was the man behind the pseudonym "Utamaro"? We know that he was one of the greatest artists of eighteenth-century Japan, and that he was a master portraitist of women in the woodblock-print tradition known as ukiyo-e. But as for the man himself, we know almost nothing. The little there is-gleaned from contemporary books, miscellaneous writings, temple registers-is brought together in this book to present as clear a picture of Utamaro's life as modem researchers are capable of. Utamaro is placed in his cultural setting-the pleasure-loving urban culture of eighteenth-century Tokyo, the shogun's capital and the de facto center of Japan Utamaro's world was that of teahouse girls and courtesans whose fame and popularity can only be compared, in modern terms, to those of a movie actress whose name is on every man's lips. His was a world of popular literature and art, of publishers competing for the work of the most talked-about writers and artists. This world, however, was under the constant scrutiny of the authorities, and near the end of his career, Utamaro fell afoul of the government's proscription of certain subject matter, and he was sentenced to three days in prison and fifty days in hand chains. But Utamaro's life is only one theme of this book. The other is the development of his art, the perfection of his depictions of women that enabled him to capture subtle moods and differences of character. The prints of women produced by the ukiyo-e artists preceding Utamaro showed expressionless beauties of little individuality. It was against this that Utamaro rebelled, creating such prints as that of the kashi, one of the lowest ranking of courtesans-in fact, a mere prostitute. Recognizing within himself the power to see and depict the individual behind the outward appearance, Utamaro added to some of his prints the notation "Studies in Physiognomic Judgment of Character by Utamaro." Modem opinion tends to agree with Utamaro's assessment of himself, and his reputation as an artist of the inner woman has firmly established him in the top ranks of the ukiyo-e world.

Utamaro: Portraits from the Floating World

Le Kidai Shōran est un magnifique rouleau japonais peint, un rendu artistique de l'une des rues les plus emblématiques d'Edo (comme s'appelait alors Tokyo) au début du XIXe siècle. Il couvre cinq pâtés de maisons de la principale artère commerçante menant au sud du pont Imagawa au pont de Nihonbashi. Bien qu'il soit soupçonné d'avoir été peint par un artiste bien connu, sa provenance est entourée de mystère. Mais sur une longueur de plus de 12 mètres, l'artiste nous a donné un regard quasi cinématographique sur la vie urbaine à l'époque d'Edo. Plus de 1600 personnes sont représentées ici, provenant de tous les horizons de la société, des samouraïs aux étudiants, coiffeurs, ménestrels et geisha. Leurs activités sont décrites dans des détails riches et aimants: ici un jeune pèlerin reçoit l'aumône, là un masseur aveugle se précipite vers son prochain rendez-vous, de l'autre côté de la rue, une équipe de construction soulève le cadre qui deviendra une nouvelle boutique. Dans ce livre fascinant, les auteurs donnent vie à ces détails avec des commentaires d'experts et une analyse avisée des temps où le parchemin a été créé.

THE KIDAI SHŌRAN SCROLL

Ozawa Hiromu

JOHN RULE DIST

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