By / Scenic Spots Family Compilation & Report
The “Edo Splendor – Exhibition of Five Ukiyo-e Masters” is being held at Hall 1 of the National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall from January 18, 2020 to April 19, 2020.
Katsushika Hokusai, Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji, The Great Wave off Kanagawa. (Photo / Shi-Yi Multimedia/?Nakau Collection, the same below)
The “Edo Splendor – Exhibition of Five Ukiyo-e Masters” features masterpieces by five renowned ukiyo-e artists from the Edo period, with Katsushika Hokusai, a national treasure-level master of ukiyo-e, as the centerpiece. Through over a hundred classic works, the exhibition takes visitors on a journey through time to explore the unique street life and the beauty of ukiyo-e culture that defined the Edo period 400 years ago.
Kitagawa Utamaro, Picture Book of the Floating World: Sparrows of Yoshiwara
For a long time, ukiyo-e has been widely used in commercial design, artworks, and everyday items. What is “ukiyo-e”? The term “ukiyo” originates from Buddhism and generally refers to the various aspects of social reality.
Utagawa Hiroshige, Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō: Sudden Shower over Shin-Ōhashi Bridge and Atake
It was not until the late 17th century that ukiyo-e began to be used for artistic purposes, evolving into an art form that depicted daily life during the Edo period. Initially, ukiyo-e prints were only in black and white. After years of refinement, they gradually developed simple colors, eventually evolving into the vibrant and intricate multi-color “nishiki-e” (brocade pictures) created through multiple print layers, resembling woven silk.
Utagawa Kuniyoshi, One of the 108 Heroes of the Popular Suikoden: Wu Yong the Resourceful
This exhibition showcases 146 classic woodblock print works selected from five great masters who were active in the ukiyo-e world. These five artists include Katsushika Hokusai, a national treasure-level master from the mid-Edo period who gained worldwide fame for his Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji. The other four masters are: Kitagawa Utamaro, the doyen of bijin-ga (pictures of beautiful women) who excelled in capturing feminine charm; Tōshūsai Sharaku, who was active during the golden age of ukiyo-e, known for his actor portraits and enigmatic personal style; Utagawa Hiroshige, who delicately portrayed the scenery of Edo with poetic undertones; and Utagawa Kuniyoshi, a master of musha-e (warrior prints) who used bold colors and themes of warriors and yokai (supernatural creatures) to satirize political power.
Tōshūsai Sharaku, Second Generation Arashi Ryuzo as the Moneylender Ishibe Kinjiro
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