Prince Genji and three beauties under a blossoming cherry trees on a river bank at night looking at fish in a tub, with cormorant fishermen in their boats with torches (to attract the fish) in the background. This refers to Chapter 27 (Kagaribi) of…
This woodblock print depicts serene figures applied in the half length portrait style on (okubi-e), this style was developed by Utamaro in 1791. It focuses attention to facial expression and demeanor to disclose more perfectly the inner beauty and…
Kuniyoshi was a son of a silk dyer. He helped his father with designing for the business. His original studies were with Kuninao (1793-1854) but Toyokuni (1769-1825) came across his work. He was admitted to Toyokuni’s school in 1811. When he set out…
The kabuki actor Ichikawa Danjuro VIII in red makeup as Matsugae Sekinosuke holding a knife in front of a lakeside samurai pavilion. Poem inscribed above.
Hokusai began his art career as an apprentice for a woodblock engraver between the ages of 15 to 18. He became a pupil of Katsukawa Shunsho in 1778. The first publication of his work came out 8 months after his studies. His goal was to depict the…
Hiroshige is known as the “artist of rain, snow, and mist”. Born as Ando Tokutaro, he was to follow the career of his father as a fire watchman. In 1811, he was a pupil of Toyohiro. In 1812, he officially became accepted into the Utagawa School. …