Narao Rapids - by Ando Hiroshige
Ukiyo-e (浮世絵, lit. "pictures of the floating world"?) (Japanese pronunciation: [ukijo.e] or [ukijoꜜe]) is a genre of Japanese
woodblock prints (or woodcuts) and paintings produced between the 17th and the 20th centuries, featuring motifs of landscapes, tales from history, the theatre, and pleasure quarters.Usually the word ukiyo is literally translated as "floating world" in
English, referring to a conception of an evanescent world,impermanent, fleeting beauty and a realm of entertainments (kabuki,
courtesans, geisha) divorced from the responsibilities of the mundane,everyday world; "pictures of the floating world", i.e. ukiyo-e, are considered a genre unto themselves.
I spent quite a few hours researching for that giant wave poster Id seen the other day in a second hand book store at charring cross.And I learnt about a new form of art- called Ukiyo-e.Literally translated as 'pictures of the floating world', this japanese art form refers to woodblock prints and paintings produced between the 17th and 20th centuries.
The concept of a evanescent world, impermanent, fleeting beauty and the realm of entertainments (geisha, kabuki, etc) divorces from the responsibilities of the mundane everyday world - found a warm corner in my heart.I can only imagine such dis-attachment while staring at the beauty of the giant waves.
When I was hunting for this particular picture, called the Navaro Rapids, I had chanced across Katsushika's 'Great Wave' and unknowingly identified them to belong to the same genre.Interestingly, Ando was greatly influenced by Katsushika and the 36 views of Mt. Fuji. He went onto
Hiroshige's The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō and One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (1856–1858) greatly influenced Monet, Van Gogh.Infact, Van Gogh copied two of the One Hundred Famous Views of Edo .
left: Hiroshige, "The Plum Garden in Kameido" , right:Van Gogh, "Flowering Plum Tree"
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