Japanese Art of the Edo Period

1. Japanese Art of the Edo Period 1603 - 1868

3. The Edo Period • The Edo period was a peaceful time in Japanese history • Japan was under the rule of the Tokugawa Shogunate • Strict social order, revival of arts and culture, economic growth • One of the main characteristics was isolation from other cultures

4. Isolationism in Edo Japan • Before the Edo period, Japan had been engaged in a great deal of international trade and had been fairly open to missionaries and visitors • But Japanese rulers feared the spread of Christianity and too much control by Europeans so they expelled the Portuguese and restricted the Chinese and Dutch to a small area of Nagasaki

5. Sakoku • No foreigner could enter (nor any Japanese leave) the country on penalty of death • Trade operated through 5 different, strictly controlled entry points • Although trade flourished, this policy controlled cultural contact and thus Japanese culture flourished “in a vacuum” to some extent

6. Ukiyo-E • Japanese woodblock prints that flourished in Japan in the 17th to the 19th centuries • Were sold to the wealthy merchant class • “Ukiyo” – means floating world – used to describe the lifestyle of the newly wealthy merchants • Subject matter: flora and fauna, entertainment, landscape, women, erotica

7. Pre-19th century Couple in a snowstorm 1768

8. Pre-19th century Geisha and a servant Carrying her Koto, 1777

9. Pre-19th century Kabuki Actor, 1768

10. Hokusai (1760 – 1849) • Japanese artist, printmaker and painter of the late Edo period • Best known as the author of the series 36 views of Mount Fuji • Most famous piece is the Great Wave off Kanagawa (1820’s)

11. Hokusai Shower below the summit

12. Hokusai South Wind at Clear Dawn

13. Hokusai Tama River in the Province of Musashi

14. Hokusai The Great Wave

15. Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858) • Considered the last great master of Ukiyo-e • Began painting at the age of 14, then apprenticed to a number of different printmakers • Best known for his landscapes and travelled all around Japan to produce scenes of all the provinces • Also produced 100 Famous Views of Edo

16. Hiroshige Kanbara Evening Snow

17. Hiroshige Plum Garden of Kameido Hiroshige

18. Hiroshige Hiroshige, AkasukaRicefields and Torinomachi Festival, 1857

19. Hiroshige Evening View of A temple in the snow

20. Hiroshige From 100 Famous Views of Edo

21. Kimonos • Kimonos were worn by people of various social classes during the Edo period. • Textile designers created more and more complex patterns • Use of embroidery, block printing to create patterns • We have found out a great deal about Edo period clothing through the Ukiyo-e prints

22. Kimonos

23. Kimonos By Hiroshige

24. Kimonos Aigi, Late Edo Period

25. Kimonos Ainu, Late Edo Period

26. Kimonos Japanese Edo print, Kimono

27. Kimonos Surcoat, Late Edo Period

28. Kimonos Noh costume, 19th century

29. Other Japanese Patterns Rice Bowl, Seto Ware, Late 19th century

30. Other Japanese Patterns Dish, Early 19th century

31. Other Japanese Patterns Edo period dish, cherry blossom

32. Other Japanese Patterns

33. Other Japanese Patterns One Hundred Boys, Screen, 17th century

34. Other Japanese Patterns

35. Other Japanese Patterns Hanging Scroll, 1606

36. So, how do we characterize Japanese Art and Design?