Japanese Art of the Edo Period

1603 - 1868

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

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

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

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

Pre-19th centuryCouple in a snowstorm1768

Pre-19th centuryGeisha and a servantCarrying her Koto, 1777

Pre-19th century

Kabuki Actor, 1768

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)

Hokusai

Shower below the summit

Hokusai

South Wind at Clear Dawn

Hokusai

Tama River in the Province of Musashi

Hokusai

The Great Wave

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

Hiroshige

Kanbara Evening Snow

Hiroshige

Plum Garden of Kameido Hiroshige

Hiroshige, Akasuka Ricefields and Torinomachi Festival, 1857

Hiroshige

Hiroshige

Evening View of A temple in the snow

Hiroshige

From 100 Famous Views of Edo

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

Kimonos

Kimonos

By Hiroshige

Kimonos

Aigi, Late Edo Period

Kimonos

Ainu, Late Edo Period

Kimonos

Japanese Edo print, Kimono

Kimonos

Surcoat, Late Edo Period

Kimonos

Noh costume, 19th century

Other Japanese Patterns

Rice Bowl, Seto Ware, Late 19th century

Other Japanese Patterns

Dish, Early 19th century

Other Japanese Patterns

Edo period dish, cherry blossom

Other Japanese Patterns

Other Japanese Patterns

One Hundred Boys, Screen, 17th century

Other Japanese Patterns

Other Japanese Patterns

Hanging Scroll, 1606

So, how do we characterize Japanese Art and Design?