Ukiyoe
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Actor Ichikawa Ebizo as Takemura
Sadanoshin.
By Toshusai Sharaku.
37.6x25.0
Edo period, dated 1794
Tokyo National Museum |
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The ukiyoe paintings are democratic
pictures, mainly the wood-block prints, which flourished
in about 200 years after the early stages of the Edo
period in Japan. The word "ukiyoe" was newly
made as a fine-arts term at the Edo period.
Originally "ukiyo" means the present in eternity,
and it is said that the view of living in comfort in
momentary transient world were reflected in the pictures
and it named them "ukiyoe".
The ukiyoe paintings are also called Yamato-e paintings
and many landscapes, portraits, etc. are seen in them.
Why did the ukiyoe paintings develop as democratic culture?
First of all, it is because mass production became possible
with the technology of wood-block prints. People could
get them at a handy price, therefore the ukiyoe paintings
got prevailed in the public.
The ukiyoe painters did not begin to make works after
taking orders from the specific orderer. They were in
the state of having no way but to make prints expecting
popular support beforehand, to arrange finished works
in bookstores etc., and to wait to be sold.
Second, it is because the Kabuki actors were drawn on
many portrait paintings. It could be said that this
expects the support from people.
Kabuki is also one of the representative traditional
performing arts of Japan; a man makes up his face, wears
a kimono, and performs a tale. A tale with songs and
dances are performed on the stage in kabuki.
To change the subject, even if the modern Japanese see
kabuki, not all of them can understand the contents.
It is because the language used in kabuki is different
from the present one.
By the way, the ukiyoe painting introduced here this
time is Sharaku's work. The man drawn in this painting
is the kabuki actor who was popular in those days.
This Sharaku is known as "a mysterious ukiyoe painter"
since the period when he made works was only ten months,
the shortest in history.
The painter of genius who came into sudden prominence
and disappeared suddenly left the works of about 150
pieces in this short period, and attracted the sensational
public concern. No one heard from him either before
or after his activities. Therefore, Sharaku is even
now the existence which gives pleasure like a kind of
having some fun delving into the mysteries for many
investigators and lovers.
Why had Sharaku disappeared?
Since the actors' portraits of ukiyoe were supported
by the passionate fans psychology offered to Kabuki
actors, for the fan who likes the glorified portrait,
his realistic description was regarded as taboo of the
ukiyoe world.
Before long, Sharaku went into smoke from this ukiyoe
world. Nobody has brought his news since then. At all
events, Sharaku is still one of the most popular ukiyoe
painters even today.
ref. "Attraction of Ukiyoe" Business education
publishing corporation. |
Vol.32
