An introduction to the art of Ukiyo-e Japanese Woodblock Prints
‘Under the wave off Kanazawa’ (‘The Great Wave) by Katsushika Hokusai, first published in 1831, is one of the most widely recognised pieces of Japanese art. It is an example of Woodblock printing, or Ukiyo-e as it is known in Japan.
I created this website as an introduction to Ukiyo-e, to show how the prints are produced, and provide an insight into the culture and history of Japan that allowed this art form to flourish and evolve.
As well as display the prints, I’ve also tried to explain the meanings behind the Japanese character seals and stamps that are common on these prints, I want to share the meanings of these stamps, as they provide a fascinating insight into the people behind the prints, and when they were produced - something that may be missed by western viewers of these prints.
The prints that I show here are prints that I have collected (rather than just pictures sourced from the internet), and make up the Waveney Collection. The collection covers traditional prints from the Edo era (1603 - 1868), then Meiji era (1868 - 1912) though to more contemporary pieces from the Shin-hanga movement (mid 1900’s) and even extends to contemporary pieces being created by artists today.
View the Collection
You can either view the collection using the artist specific links below to view details of the individual prints that make up the Waveney Collection, or to just view the prints themselves, click on '‘The Collection’ in the bar at the top of the page.
Hiroshige - 10th Station: Hakone - from 53 Stations of the Tōkaidō
What is Ukiyo-e
The Japanese word ‘Ukiyo’ translates as ‘The Floating World’ and refers to the entertainment districts in the major Japanese cities where people went to see Kabuki (a traditional form of Japanese dance-drama). ‘Ukiyo-e’ translates as ‘Pictures of the Floating World’, and the pictures were a popular art form that was enjoyed by the everyday townspeople who lived in the busy cities that grew in the Edo period (1615 - 1868)
Hiroshige - 32nd Station: Shirasuka - from 53 Stations of the Tōkaidō
The History of Ukiyo-e
Woodblock printing can be traced back to China in the 8th Century, where the first prints where text, rather than pictures, however it is in Japan that woodblock printing took off.