https://mymodernmet.com/hiroshige-woodblock-prints/
"With rich colors and distinct aesthetics, Japanese woodblock prints blossomed
between the 17th and 19th centuries, in the Edo era. During this time, Japan
was mostly closed off from the outside world, and only a handful of Dutch and
Chinese traders were allowed inside with severe restrictions. So, the style of
ukiyo-e, which literally means “pictures of a floating world,” offers a window
into what life was like before the country reopened.
Among the many masters of this trade, Utagawa Hiroshige (born Andō Hiroshige)
was one of the most influential. Not only was he incredibly prolific, producing
more than 8,000 woodblock prints during his lifetime, but he also created some
of the best-known images of Japanese life during the Edo era. Some of his most
famous series include
The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō and
One
Hundred Famous Views of Edo, both of which explored composition and subtle use
of color.
Now, fans of the historical art form can learn more about the process and even
look at prints in close detail from their home. The Minneapolis Institute of
Art recently made their extensive digital collection of woodblock prints by
Hiroshige available to view and even download via their website. Within this
1,000+ image archive are examples of his landscapes, cityscapes, portraits, and
more—many of which influenced Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painters
like Monet and Van Gogh.
Visit the Minneapolis Institute of Art's website to view and download
Hiroshige's woodblock prints."
Via Esther Schindler.
Share and enjoy,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
