Japanese Woodblock Prints

[1]

Japanese Woodblock PrintsUkiyo-e

“Pictures of the floating world”These prints depicted scenes of harmony and carefree everyday living.[2]

People Crossing an Arched Bridge

Katsushika Hokusai[3]

Japanese Woodblock Prints

Whalling off the Goto IslandsKatsushika Hokusai[3]

Japanese Woodblock Prints

Ancient View of Yatsuhashi in Mikawa ProvinceKatsushika Hokusai[3]

Japanese Woodblock Prints

A few notes about elements of a landscape print

Foreground

Middle Ground

Background

Objects that are far away get smaller

This boat is closer than. . .

. . . This boat

Objects that are closer sometimes overlap objects behind them

The Sagami River Ando Hiroshige[4]

Many Japanese woodblocks seek to have a balance of positive space . . .

. . . and negative space

Back View of Mt.Fuji from Dream Mountain in Kai ProvinceAndo Hiroshige[4]

The Valley of Approach at Oyama in Sagami ProvinceAndo Hiroshige[4]

Rough Sea at Shichiri Beach in Sagami ProvinceAndo Hiroshige[4]

Sources:

• [1] http://www.moma.org/interactives/projects/2001/whatisaprint/flash.html

• [2] http://www.asianartmall.com/AboutWoodBlockPrints.html

• [3] http://www.katsushikahokusai.org

• [4] http://www.hiroshige.org.uk/