Hokusai’s ‘Great Wave’, the most iconic image in Japanese art – is setting some eye popping records at auction. Recently, an early-original Great Wave sold at Christies for a whopping $2.8million. That is almost double the previous sale from 2022, which was $1.5 million. That $1.5million sales was already up around 50%. So, the sales …
What’s Driving the Record Hokusai Great Wave Prices? Read More »
Katsushika Hokusai’s style of art is often characterized by his mastery of traditional Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock printing techniques, which he used to create a wide range of works including landscapes, portraits, and depictions of everyday life in Edo-period Japan. Hokusai’s style is known for its attention to detail and its use of vivid colors and …
Hasui Kawase was a prominent Japanese woodblock print artist who lived from 1883 to 1957. He is particularly renowned for his landscape prints, which are highly sought after by collectors and art enthusiasts. Hasui Kawase primarily lived and worked in Tokyo, Japan. He was born in the Asakusa district of Tokyo in 1883, and he …
Why is Hasui Kawase so Popular in the Art Market? Read More »
When you set out to become a serious woodblock print collector, one of the first learning curves you must master is determining what is an original woodblock print. There are so many beautiful copies floating around out there, and it might be complex to figure out if what you are seeing is an “original”. Here …
OK, so you have a beautiful Japanese woodblock print in your hands, and you swear it is of great importance and value. The colors are gorgeous, the subjects is interesting, but you are baffled because you are at a loss to determine its maker, year, title, etc. Well, check out the following guide for everything …
Geishas, who are skilled entertainers trained in traditional Japanese arts such as dance, music, and poetry, were a popular subject in Japanese woodblock prints, also known as ukiyo-e prints. These prints were created during the Edo period (1603-1868) in Japan and were widely produced and circulated as a form of popular art. Geishas were popular …
Original Hokusai prints are far more valuable than reproductions due to their rarity and historical significance. Hokusai was a prolific artist who produced a large number of prints during his lifetime, but many of these prints were lost or destroyed over time. As a result, original Hokusai prints are highly sought after by collectors and …
Hokusai Originals are far more Valuable than Reproductions Read More »
Identifying an original versus a reproduction woodblock print can be challenging, as many reproductions are made to look as close to the original as possible. However, there are several factors to consider when trying to identify an original woodblock print: Paper quality: Original woodblock prints are typically printed on high-quality, handmade paper that has a …
Identifying Original versus Reproduction – Japanese Woodblocks Read More »
Woodblock prints are higher quality when stored away from light because light exposure can cause the pigments and paper of the print to fade or discolor over time. This is because light contains ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which can break down the molecular structure of the pigments and paper. Additionally, prolonged exposure to light can cause …
What’s the Best Way to Store my Woodblock Print? Read More »
Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) is considered one of Japan’s favorite artists due to his immense talent and influence on the art world both in Japan and internationally. Hokusai is best known for his woodblock prints, particularly his series “Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji,” which includes the famous print “The Great Wave off Kanagawa.” One reason for …
Ukiyo-e Master – Hokusai’s Most Interesting Subjects Read More »
Selling a Japanese woodblock print can be done through a variety of channels, including online marketplaces, art galleries, or auction houses. Here are some steps you can take to sell your Japanese woodblock print: Research: Start by researching the print and identifying the artist, title, edition, and condition of the print. This information can affect …
Kawase Hasui (1883-1957) was a Japanese artist who is best known for his woodblock prints of landscapes and cityscapes. Hasui was born in Tokyo and initially trained as a painter, studying with Yamamoto Shunkyo and Kaburagi Kiyokata. In 1918, Hasui began working as a designer for the Tokyo-based publisher Watanabe Shozaburo, which specialized in producing …
Regarding Kawase Hasui, the Master of Shin Hanga Read More »
Have you ever wondered what the interiors of walls looked like in Edo? Well, here’s a story. Back in the second half of the 18th century in Edo, when all borders and connections to the outside were severed and ukiyo-e i.e. Japanese woodblock art was in full bloom, there were some artists who thought …
We all love a good book to read right? And what would be even better, is if you could quench your thirst wanting to learn more about ukiyo-e and reading all in one full scoop! So here are five popular and well-recommended ukiyo-e books that outshine the others with their historical accuracy coupled with their …
5 Ukiyo-e Books that are a Must-Buy for Japanese Woodblock Art Fans Read More »
Everyone likes a good play on words right? Well, you’d be surprised to know that the Japanese woodblock artists of the Edo period also felt the same! Filled with several landscape scenes, the series Flowers of Edo – Edo no Hana Meisho-e is full of text on each print that has a double meaning, one …
Once upon a time, a Japanese lord sought shelter from a heavy downpour in Japan. He sat under a tree and thought to himself, “Oh thank god. I can lay low under the tree until the rain stops”. But mere minutes later, he saw a cat waving its paw at him in the distance. Intrigued …
I love that a museum can still feel like home wherever you are in the world! Yes, that’s right my friends! If you’re an art enthusiast, heading out to a museum to admire the great works of art this world’s blessed with is the following way to awaken your inner artist. But even more so, …
Five Museums that Every Ukiyo-e Enthusiast Should Visit! Read More »
When we usually think of the influence of Japanese woodblock art, the first thing that comes to mind would be how it influenced the artworks of esteemed European painters at the time, like Claude Monet, Vincent Van Gogh, or Édouard Manet [4]. But did you know that the influence of the Edo period ukiyo-e, or …
From East to West: The Influence of Ukiyo-e on European Decorative Arts Read More »
Tattoos are complicated cultural symbols, simultaneously representing both belonging and non-conformity. [1] In Japan, tattoos have had a remarkably unique Journey, starting with the Edo period. Shaped by a long era of symbolizing shame and punishment these Japanese tattoo forms made it through history and are particularly popular now for their diverse colors. So let’s …
Irezumi: Tracing The History of Tattoos in Japanese Ukiyo-e Read More »
We’ve all known the famous Utagawa Hiroshige if we know anything about Japanese woodblock art. This master of ukiyo-e crafted several spectacular woodblock art pieces. And in particular, his vertical format series, The One Hundred Famous Views of Edo, comes close to no other. But did you know, that Utagawa Hiroshige was in fact not …
Utagawa School: Early Masters ofJapanese Woodblock Prints Read More »
Originally from ARTISTIC JAPAN (LE JAPON ARTISTIQUE): Siegfried Bing PUBLISHER Written by L. FALIZE and Published in the late 1890s for ARTISTIC JAPAN In approaching the Art of Japan, it is not my intention to touch upon its origin or its marvels, or to ascertain the laws upon which it is founded. A goldsmith myself, …
Nishiki-e is an Edo specialty unrivaled by other regions. Those prints that are gorgeously colored find fans of high status. They are admired throughout Japan. – Edo meisho zue (1834) [2] Nishiki-e – meaning “brocade paintings” in Japanese refers to an era of polychromatic prints that practically revolutionized how Japanese woodblock prints were made. Usually, …
Nishiki-e: A tale of the colorful world of Ukiyo-e Read More »
Bijin-ga – literally meaning “beautiful person picture”, is an art subgenre of ukiyo-e (What is Ukiyo-e? – see our Blog Article Here) that captures imagery of beautiful women, courtesans in particular [3]. So, basically vibrant colored kimonos, tied-up hair, and attractive expressions of the geishas and oirans of the Japanese culture are what this genre …
Bijin-ga Beauties: The Knockouts of the Floating World Read More »
Aka 赤 あか – the Japanese word for red is so much more than just a color in Japanese culture. From shrines to temples, and even the clothing of Shinto priests, everything has a touch of red to it. As a matter of fact, Japan’s national flag has a red sun right in the center …
Woodblock Red – The dominant color of Ukiyo-e and of Japan Read More »
If you’ve heard of Japanese woodblock art from the Edo period, you’ve probably heard about names like Utagawa Hiroshige for his woodblock print series 100 Famous Views of Edo, and Katsushika Hokusai for the series 36 Views of Mt. Fuji, Featuring the Great Wave Off Kanagawa. But there’s another bold ukiyo-e artist, way ahead of …
“[People in Edo period Japan (1603–1868)] … overcame many of the identical problems that confront us today—issues of energy, water, materials, food, and population—[and] forged from these considerable challenges a society that was conservation-minded, waste-free, well-housed and well-fed, and economically robust, and that has bequeathed to us admirable and enduring standards of design and beauty.” …
Ever wonder what the favorite colors were of Japanese Woodblock artists? Well, for a while there, it did seem like it was Prussian blue, especially for Katsushika Hokusai – the ukiyo-e artist whom we’ve most fondly known for his Great Wave Off Kanagawa. You might have known this, or you might not, but the Great …
Ukiyo-e – pictures of the floating world. What made them so popular, apart from Japan opening up its borders to the west, of course? The color! Oh, how the reds flow right into the greens and the browns lining the greys. The color explosion that each Japanese woodblock piece has is like no other. And …
“If you study Japanese art you see a man who is undoubtedly wise, philosophic and intelligent, who spends his time how? In studying the distance between the earth and the moon? No. In studying the policy of Bismarck? No. He studies a single blade of grass. But this blade of grass leads him to draw …
What time is it? It’s Halloween time! Creepy ghost stories, skeletons lurking over your heads, a whisper in the corner of your house – all of that is right around the corner! And we’re not the only ones who love a good horror story. Yes my friends, when it comes to a story that would …
Washi – a term that literally means ‘Japanese paper’ refers to the paper that’s extremely important to Japanese woodblock art. While you could do Japanese woodblock art on absolutely any paper, you might encounter several obstacles when attempting to do so on every other paper [2]. Some such problems might be that the ink bleeds …
In the early 1850s, Japan opened its borders to trade with the rest of the world, ending 200-year-long seclusion. And that’s when Japanese goods and art, especially Ukiyo-e or Japanese woodblock art began to flow into places like Paris, the US, London, etc, inspiring Western Impressionist artists to transition to a more Japanese style of …
Shunga – Sexual Imagery of the Edo Period – Great Pleasure in Edo A sub-category of Japanese ukiyo-e “Japanese woodblock prints”, is shunga, literally meaning “spring pictures” – a euphemism for sex. Extremely popular among the public during the Edo period, shunga depicts sexual imagery of all sorts – sex between a man and woman, …
from Le Japon Artistique (Artistic Japan) by VICTOR CHAMPIER. Originally published in the late 1800s. Introduction: When studying woodblock prints from the 19th century, one gets a feel as if they are taking a walk through Old Japan. A place almost forgotten in today’s modern world in time and space. Japanese Architecture is apparent in …
A SPECIAL BLOG ENTRY & SERIES FROM THE ORIGINAL ARTISTIC JAPAN PUBLICATION – LE JAPON ARTISTIQUE JAPANESE AS DECORATORS by LOUIS GONSE. I have elsewhere expressed my opinion on the artistic genius of the Japanese, and have said plainly that they are the greatest decorators in the world. This very decided verdict requires explanation and …
An image representing how the Shin-hange movement continues, even today at a new exhibition upcoming in Brussels Shin – ‘new’ and hanga – ‘prints’. Literally meaning the ‘new prints’ the Japanese Shin-hanga art movement came around in early 20th century Japan when classical ukiyo-e prints of the 17th to 19th century, pioneered by the famous …
Shin-Hanga – How East Meets West in Japanese Art Read More »
Why collect Japanese woodblock prints? You probably thought that to yourself as you opened our website. Well to answer that, the bigger question would be, why do we collect anything at all? We all have our little collections of something after all, don’t we? Books, pretty pens, oil paintings, etc., etc. We collect them because …
Why are Japanese Woodblock Prints so Collectible and Valuable? Read More »
Bijin okubi-e “large-headed pictures of beautiful women”. Born for the art and died for it – born as Kitagawa Ichitaro in 1752, Utamaro was one of the Japanese Ukiyo-e artists who is known for bringing about a category of woodblock art known as Bijin okubi-e “large-headed pictures of beautiful women”. As you probably figured by …
Ukiyo-e, or the floating world pieces, are Japanese art genres that involve woodblock art. Unique in its form and the process of its creation, Ukiyo-e first surfaced outside Japan in the 17th century and influenced how art was created all across the globe. In fact, even the crude impressionists of the West began to incorporate …
The Floating World of Ukiyo-e: 10 Woodblock Art Masterpieces You Should Never Miss Read More »
