Fascinating Japanese Woodcut Prints

Overview

Ukiyo-e to Chiyogami and Contemporary Art – The Diverse World of Woodblock Print Art

Of all the forms of artistic expression, woodblock printmaking is perhaps one of those for which the Japanese people have the deepest affinity. During the Edo Period (1603-1868), ukiyo-e prints were ubiquitous, and woodblock prints became established as the "art of the common people." Woodblock printmaking was also used to make printed matter such as chiyogami decorative paper and hikifuda leaflets, which were regular features of life at this time. With the arrival of the Taisho Era (1912-1926), came the so-called sosaku hanga (creative print) movement, which took full advantage of woodblock printmaking's bold expressionistic potential, and the shin-hanga (new print) movement, which sought to recapture ukiyo-e's detailed lines and vivid colors. Meanwhile, printed matter such as book covers and decorated envelopes combining a uniquely woodblock print softness of texture with modern design also brought color to the lives of the people.

After the war, Japanese woodblock printmaking, which had developed uniquely on the basis of both tradition and new innovation, began to garner attention abroad. This in turn led to increased excitement about the medium domestically and, to this day, there continue to be a great many artists who focus their energies on this traditional technique.

At the Yokohama Museum of Art, we have roughly 1,600 woodblock prints in our collection, dating from the late-Edo Period to the present. Consisting of some 220 works, primarily from the collection but also including some new works by contemporary artists, this exhibition demonstrates the attractiveness of woodblock print expression across historical periods. We encourage you to come and experience the world of "Fascinating Japanese Woodcut Prints," teeming with originality and the spirit of the common people.