Exploring Ukiyo-e: Van Gogh’s Connection to Japanese Woodblock Prints | Daily Art Knowledge

When it comes to ukiyo-e, many people immediately think of the famous image of a great wave, but there are actually many other well-known works of ukiyo-e art.

What is Ukiyo-e?

Ukiyo-e is a type of woodblock print that originated in Japan’s Edo period (late 17th to mid-19th century) and mainly depicts the social customs and lifestyles of the time, with subjects including women, kabuki actors, landscapes, and eroticism.

There are two different techniques for creating ukiyo-e: woodblock printing and brush painting (nigao-e). The woodblock printing process is complex, with the artist first drawing the “hanshita-e” design, then the carver carving the outline onto a wooden block, and finally the printer using the block to produce the print. In contrast, “nigao-e” is created by directly painting on paper or silk.

The first ukiyo-e print appeared in the 1670s and was “A Beauty Looking Back” by Hishikawa Shun’ei, featuring a beautiful woman. Ukiyo-e prints were initially monochromatic, but gradually evolved to include colour prints, though initially these were limited to special commissions.

Ukiyo-e subjects were diverse, including “bijin-ga” (beautiful women), “yakusha-e” (kabuki actors), “giga” (caricatures), and “shunga” (erotic prints).

One of the most famous ukiyo-e works is “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” by Katsushika Hokusai, while Hiroshige’s “Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido” series is also well known.

How Van Gogh related to ukiyo-e prints?

In the 19th century, ukiyo-e prints were exported with Japanese tea to Europe and influenced many Impressionist painters, including Monet and Van Gogh. In fact, Van Gogh’s well-known painting “Starry Night” features a swirling sky that is reminiscent of the wave in “The Great Wave off Kanagawa.”

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