Pictures of the Floating World: The Art of Japanese Woodblock Printing

PICTURES OF THE FLOATING WORLD
The Art of Japanese Woodblock Printing
Open from 6th March
Reopening 16th -26th June

The golden age of Japanese woodblock printing in the 18th and 19th centuries saw the spread of a highly populist art form, described as Ukiyo-e, or 'pictures of the floating world'. The floating world is an expression meaning the fleeting, ephemeral pleasures of life (mostly for Japanese men): the theatre, beautiful women, or courtesans, folklore stories and the beauty of animals, flowers and plants. Produced in books, scrolls, or as loose sheets, woodblock prints were made and circulated widely throughout Japanese society from the early 1600s right through until the mid 20th century, with some artists still operating with new styles and methods today.

Early illustrated woodblock books were printed on fine, expensive papers, and frequently reimagined Japanese classics which had previously only been hand painted on scrolls for society’s highest elites. Due to their popularity, printers were quick to develop processes to create more affordable books for the mass market, and on a wider range of subjects, including satirical novels, art books, travel guides and advice manuals. These also led to images that had humorous or erotic elements, as well as greetings cards that depicted animals, townscapes or popular temples.

The technique of producing images using delicately hand-carved blocks flourished during the Edo and Meiji periods in the 18th and 19th centuries, with skilled artists such as Utamaro (1750 - 1806), Kunisada (1786 - 1865) and Yoshitoshi (1868 - 1912) creating more intricate designs using vivid colours and glazes. Prints were produced as illustrations for historical subjects, including tales of famous samurai warriors or high-ranking societal figures. They were also created to accompany to kabuki plays, depicting actors in extravagant makeup and poses, often playing those renowned samurais. Many of the most popular images were reprinted by new printmakers decades later (although still well over a century ago, now), carefully reproducing the prints by hand as a celebration of the original artist’s work.

These pieces are now some of the most instantly recognisable and celebrated works in the history of Japanese woodblock printing, and are collected around the world. They still represent some of the most remarkable examples of fine printmaking and craftsmanship in the art world, with extraordinarily detailed designs in fine detail that remain as brilliantly coloured as they were two hundred years or more ago.

Also on show:

New glass work by Peter Furlonger

New collections of jewellery by Silverkupe (Emine Thompson)

All works are available for sale