Katsushika Hokusai
Katsushika Hokusai (October 31, 1760(?) - May 10, 1849) was a Japanese Ukiyo-e painter and print maker.Although his birth date and are not known, it is said that Hokusai was born to an artisan family in Edo, Japan. Hokusai began painting at the age of six, learning from his father who was believed to be a mirror-maker. At the age of 14, Hokusai became an apprentice of a woodcarver until he became 18. Hokusai then became accepted to to work in the studio of Katsukawa Shunsho, an ukiyo-e artist who Hokusai would learn from. Hokusai explored many different types of art styles such as European styled artwork.
Artwork
Hokusai is best known for his Ukiyo-e print titled Kanagawa Oki Nami Ura, also know as The Great Wave Off Kanagawa. This piece was created using woodblock print with ink and color on paper. This piece led to Ukiyo-e's international success. Prints of The Great Wave made it's way to the west and introduced Europe to Japanese Ukiyo-e artwork for the first time. Hokusai created so many prints of The Great Wave Off Kanagawa, that the woodblock was required to be recut in order to create more prints There are many copies of The Great Wave Off Kanagawa around the world. due to it's mass production. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the British Museum in London, the collection of Claude Monetin Giverny, France are some of the many locations of these prints. This piece is one of the most significant Ukiyo-e piece that was created and even today, represents Japan.
Utagawa Hiroshige
Utagawa Hiroshige (1797 – 12 October 1858) is one of the last Japanese Ukiyo=e painter and print maker. Hiroshige was best known for his landscapes and paintings of birds and flowers. Hiroshige was born in 1797 in Yaesu, Edo. Hiroshige studied the techniques of the well-established Kanō school as well as an artist named Toyohiro, who was a member of the Utagawa school. Hokusai had a great influence on Hiroshige's choice of subject matter and themes. Hiroshige's work involved a very poetic approach to his Ukiyo-e artwork. Hiroshige was estimated to have created over 5,000 prints as well as over 10,000 copies from his woodblock. After Hiroshige died from cholera, this marked the decline of Ukiyo-e artwork.
Artwork
Hiroshige created Fifty Three Stations of Tokaido after traveling to Takido for the first time in 1832. The Hiroshige's subject matter in this piece was so popular that he over 30 different series of wood print of it. Fifty Three Stations of Tokaido was one of the greatest Ukiyo-e painting that Hiroshige created and was the best selling Ukiyo-e paintings of all time. The runaway success of Fifty Three Stations of Tokaido established Hiroshige as the most prominent and successful printmaker of the Tokugawa era Fifty Three Stations of Tokaido currently is located at The Art Institute of Chicago donated by architect Frank Llyod Wright.
Kitagawa Utamaro
Kitagawa Utamaro (1753 – 31 October 1806) was an extremely prominent and important Ukiyo-e painter and print maker. Originally born as Kitagawa Ichitarō, he later changed his name as an adult. during his childhood Utamaro came under the guidance of the artist Toriyama Sekien. Utamaro was very well known for his portraits of Japanese beauties. Utamaro made many half length single portraits of women instead of groups of women which other famous Ukiyo-e artists were. Utamaro faced controversy when he created a print of a military ruler's wife and concubines. This insulted the military ruler and thus led to Utamaro being handcuffed for 50 days. After this hard experience, Utamaro unfortunately ended his art career .
Artwork
Women Wiping Sweat is one of the many works that Utamaro created dedicated his appreciation for Japanese beauties, also know as bijin-ga. Women Wiping Sweat was created by using woodblock print in 1798. The work includes Utamaro's signature on the right side. Many of Utamaro's artwork were portraits of beautiful women who were considered to be graceful beauties of the time. These portraitures of beautiful women, led to Utamaro's ultimate success as an artist and fame. Women Wiping Sweat can be found in the collection of the State A Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, in Moscow, Russia.