Autumn Moon in Japanese Woodblock Prints

Does anyone here live by the water? If you do, you will probably confirm that evenings have something transcendental when the moon reflects on the water and the air is so fresh… These things never change as we can clearly see in these 19th century Japanese woodblock prints.

1. Moon by Hiroshige

Utagawa Hiroshige ( 歌川 広重) is considered the last great master of the woodblock printing and painting tradition of ukiyo-e, which developed in the 17th century Edo, modern Tokyo. He is mostly known for his depictions of nature, which were, however, an unusual subject for ukiyo-e, which portrayed the world of courtesans, actors, and urban entertainment.

2. Moon by Eisen

Keisai Eisen (渓斎 英泉) was seven years older than Hiroshige. His works focused primarily on portraits of beautiful women –  bijin-ga. Perhaps that’s why he’s regarded as a master of the decadent Bunsei era, which lasted approximately from 1818 to 1830?

3. Moon by Zeshin

Shibata Zeshin’s (柴田 是真) art was not liked at all in Japan. He was considered an epigone of others who did nothing of his own, and a panderer to Europeans, who painted only what pleased the West. He worked slightly later than Hiroshige, active between the late Edo period and the early Meiji era, which began in 1868.

4. Moon by Chikanobu

Toyohara Chikanobu (豊原周延), known to his contemporaries as Yōshū Chikanobu (楊洲周延) also worked during the Meiji period. He first served in the military in the famous Shōgitai corps. Following their surrender in the Battle of Ueno in 1868, he decided to make a living as an artist.

5. Moon by Toyokuni II

Utagawa Toyokuni II was adopted by another artist, Toyokuni I, he became his pupil and later his son-in-law (ah, these family links). He worked during the Edo period. Also before his teacher’s death in 1826 he used another name, Toyoshige (豊重), then he switched to simple Toyokuni (豊国) but another pupil of Toyokuni I, Kunisada, didn’t accept it and on top of that he declared himself the leader of Toyokuni school.