What Did Ukiyo-e Prints Show?

Ukiyo-e prints are famous not only for their beauty but also for the stories and scenes they captured. The name ukiyo-e means “pictures of the floating world,” referring to the lively urban culture of Edo-period Japan. But what exactly did these prints show? And how did their subjects evolve over time? Let’s explore the most popular themes and their history.

🎎 Early Ukiyo-e: Bijin-ga and Yakusha-e

In the earliest days of ukiyo-e (17th to early 18th century), the prints mainly focused on bijin-ga, which means “pictures of beautiful women.” These prints portrayed courtesans, geishas, and fashionable women, highlighting the beauty and fashion trends of the time. Artists like Kitagawa Utamaro became famous for their elegant and detailed portraits of women, capturing personality and style.

Alongside bijin-ga, yakusha-e or actor prints were very popular. These showed kabuki actors in dynamic poses and dramatic costumes, celebrating the popular theater culture. Toshusai Sharaku is especially known for his intense and expressive yakusha-e portraits, which captured the emotions of the performers with striking detail.

🌄 Mid Period: The Rise of Landscape Prints (Fūkei-ga)

By the late 18th and early 19th centuries, ukiyo-e saw a big shift towards landscapes, called fūkei-ga. This change was driven by an increased interest in travel and nature. Artists like Katsushika Hokusai and Utagawa Hiroshige created famous series such as Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji and The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō. These prints often captured beautiful natural scenery, seasonal changes, weather, and famous places. They brought a new sense of calm and beauty to ukiyo-e and greatly influenced Western art.

🌿 Later Ukiyo-e: New Subjects and Styles

As ukiyo-e developed, new genres became popular. Kachō-e, or bird-and-flower prints, showed detailed and delicate images of animals and plants. These prints often celebrated the natural world’s beauty in a peaceful and artistic way. Artists like Ohara Koson were masters of kachō-e, combining realistic detail with artistic expression.

Musha-e, or warrior prints, depicted samurai, battles, and legendary heroes. These dramatic prints were full of action and emotion, often telling famous historical or mythological stories. Utagawa Kuniyoshi is well-known for his powerful and imaginative musha-e works.

Other popular themes included scenes of daily life, festivals, and even erotic prints called shunga. These subjects reflected many aspects of Edo-period culture and life, making ukiyo-e accessible and relatable to many people.

🖌️ Modern Era: Shin-hanga and Sosaku-hanga Movements

During the Meiji period (late 19th to early 20th century), ukiyo-e evolved into the shin-hanga (“new prints”) and sosaku-hanga (“creative prints”) movements. These styles combined traditional Japanese woodblock printing with modern ideas and influences from Western art. Artists like Kawase Hasui created serene and atmospheric landscapes, while others experimented with new techniques and subjects.

📋 Summary of Popular Ukiyo-e Genres

• 🎎 Bijin-ga: Elegant portraits of beautiful women, capturing fashion and personality.
• 🎭 Yakusha-e: Dramatic kabuki actor prints, showing theatrical costumes and expressions.
• 🌄 Fūkei-ga: Stunning landscapes depicting nature, seasons, and famous places.
• 🌿 Kachō-e: Detailed images of birds, flowers, and natural scenes.
• ⚔️ Musha-e: Bold prints of warriors, battles, and heroic legends.
• 🎉 Others: Everyday life scenes, festivals, erotic prints (shunga), and literary stories.

🖼️ Explore the Floating World

Ukiyo-e prints evolved alongside Japan’s culture and society, reflecting changing tastes and styles over centuries. To experience the full variety of these beautiful prints, visit our ukiyo-e collection. Find timeless art that captures the spirit of Japan’s Floating World.