Ukiyo-E Essay

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CHAPTER 2LITERATURE REVIEW
Introduction, Hoistory
The word Ukiyo was ” a Buddhist term to express the impermanence of human life.” (khanacademy)By the end of the 17th century, it was used by the Japanese literati for art.
According to the research of Frederick H.(2010), Ukiyo-e which is known as"pictures of the floating world" in Japanese art. “It is a composite term of uki (floating), yo (world), and e (pictures)”(Japanese prints, Ellis Tinios,,P.8) Ukiyo-e is a genre of Japanese woodblock prints and paintings which originated in the metropolitan culture of Edo (Tokyo) during the period between the 17th century and 20th century of Japanese history.
In the early period of ukiyo-e , between the period of 16th century and 17th century, ukiyo-e …show more content…

However, The term 'floating world' refer to transient and carefree urban lifestyle that advocating the hedonistic way of life. The content is vulgar or even immoral that mostly about the prostitution or kabuki. Aesthetes and moralists are suppressing as it is promoting the culture of the lowlife. However, in such competitive industry, indulge the desire of a mass audience for affordable, well-produced images is the printer only concern in the Edo Period (1600-1868). By the 1870s, that kind of literate decried by the elite are replace traditional one becoming a prevalent one and even transmitted to the …show more content…

The popular genres include the portraits of beauty and erotica about different social strata and background such as geisha, iconic actors of the kabuki stage, sumo wrestlers, samurai as well as courtesans. Moreover, it is a kind of narration and depiction with various themes, for instance the prospect of natures and landscapes, heroic tales and historical scenes.

Characteristic of Ukiyo-e
“Ukiyo-e is an art form that highlights flowing curved outlines, simplistic forms and detailing of flat areas containing color“ Frederick H.(2010).
(characteristic) In line with its mass-appeal, Ukiyo focused on the ordinary things of life. Appreciated for its bright colour and decorativeness. Its impact on French painting was due to the unique characteristics of Ukiyo-e, including its exaggerated foreshortening, asymmetry of design, areas of flat (unshaded) colour, and imaginative cropping of figures.

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