Edutainment > Collecting Ukiyo-e

by Hiroshige Ando 1797-1858

Ukiyo-e - Japanese Prints
Thirty-six Views of Mt.Fuji
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The origins of ukiyo-e - a synonym for Japanese woodblock prints - go back to the middle of the 17th century. Ukiyo-e means literally translated pictures of the floating world.

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Harunobu and Masanobu

The first prints were black and white. The artists Okomura Masanobu and Harunobu Suzuki were among the first to introduce color woodblock prints. The most commonly illustrated subjects are theater, women, landscape, nature and scenes from Japan's history and old legends.

Ukiyo-e and French Impressionism

In the second half of the 19th century when Japan's isolation was broken by the US navy under Captain Perry's command, ukiyo-e soon became very popular all over the world. The French impressionists like Paul Gauguin or van Gogh were highly influenced by these fascinating works of art.

At around 1910, the art of Japanese woodblock printing saw a new renaissance with artists like Hasui or Yoshida Hiroshi who successfully reinvigorated this art into the 20th century.

The Art Periods of Ukiyo-e

by Kunichika Toyohara 1835-1900

The Edo Society
Ghosts from the Deep
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Edo - until 1868

The Edo period is considered the classic period of the traditional art of ukiyo-e.

Meiji - 1868-1912

The art of woodblock printing in the Meiji period is marked by the industrialization and swift westernization which Japan underwent in this era. Famous artists are Chikanobu Toyohara, Yoshitoshi or Ogata Gekko to name a few.

Shin Hanga - 1913-1962

The Shin Hanga movement tried to revitalize the old ukiyo-e tradition. The shin hanga art movement was initiated and promoted by Watanabe Shozaburo, a publisher and business man. Some of the leading artists are Kawase Hasui, Natori Shunsen, Ito Shinsui and Yoshida Hiroshi.

Sosaku Hanga

The Sosaku Hanga (creative prints) movement was more influenced by Western art. The Sosaku Hanga artists thought that the artist should do all steps of producing a print - design, cutting the block and printing - himself.

The Value of Ukiyo-e

by Yoshitoshi Taiso 1839-1892

Yoshitoshi Biography
Mount Yoshino Midnight-Moon # 15
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The market value of a woodblock print depends on different factors: the artist, the subject, the condition and how rare a print is. It can vary from $20 to $250,000 or more.

The condition of an ukiyo-e print has a high influence on its value. For a list of commonly used expressions to describe prints, please go to Print Conditions.

When looking for ukiyo-e, you should consider that an original print of 100 or 150 or more years, will never look perfect. If it does, you should be careful not to buy a reproduction, especially if it's a print of one of the famous artists like Hokusai, Utamaro, Ando Hiroshige or others.

As for subjects and artists, this depends on market trends and fashions. The best approach of looking at a print should be your very personal impression: Do I like it or not and do I want to spend the money for it?

Japanese Print Sizes

by Hasui Kawase 1883-1957

Biography of Hasui
Kasuga Shrine in Nara
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The Japanese ukiyo-e artists used standard sizes. You often find these sizes referred to with their Japanese words. Here is a list of the most frequently encountered standard sizes for Japanese woodblock prints and the approximate measures:

A more detailed list can be found on Japanese Print Sizes.

Conservation Tips for Ukiyo-e

• Use a mat for framing or for storing a print to avoid direct contact between the glass and the print to make sure the air can circulate.
• Use only acid-free mats.
• Never cut or trim a print.
• Do not apply any tapes or glues to a print
• Do not expose prints to bright sunlight.

For a more detailed discussion of the matter please, read Care of Art Prints.

Dieter Wanczura
(May 2001, updated September 2009)

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