Hiroshige

Utagawa Hiroshige I created Hamamatsu: Winter Scene in the Edo period (1833-34) using the medium of woodblock print; ink and color on paper. Specifications include: dimensions of 9 in. x 14 in. and a landscape orientation, as showcased in the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, U.K. The piece depicts a wintry rural scene on the outskirts of Hamamatsu station. The village and Hamamatsu Castle are visible in the distance. Porters warm themselves by a bonfire while another traveler looks on, pipe in hand, and a peasant woman is viewed carrying a child on her back. The following analysis will employ terminology, as well as, context from Japanese art culture to briefly describe and analyze noteworthy observations seen through the following basic visual elements: color, line, and form. Subsequently, I will discuss how those elements are composed through compositional devices – balance, and proportion and scale. One of the most notable visual elements of this piece is its application of color. Upon initial glance,…

An artwork that was influenced by Japonism “Bridge in the rain: after Hiroshige” by Van Gogh is an oil on canvas painting that was created in 1887 in Paris, France. This painting was strongly inspired by the original woodblock print by the Japanese artist, Utagawa Hiroshige, in 1857. By comparing the two works, we can see that the colours Van Gogh are more intense which creates a contrast with the colours of the original print. To recreate the falling rain seen on the print, Van Gogh used a…

In the world of printmaking, the relief print is the most well known and commonly used form throughout the centuries. In relief printmaking, the parts of the printing surface that carry ink are raised while the remaining areas are cut away. The oldest kind of relief prints are woodcuts, where a (smooth) block of wood is used as the medium. Woodcut does not offers very little in the way of color, so most artists have to work in black and white only. If an artist wants to add color, he/she needs…

the buildings. Ando Hiroshige Analysis on 2 of Hiroshige’s Paintings This painting is called “The Sea at Satta”. I can see that Ando Hiroshige has used a lot of dark thick lines to give a dark tone to the waves, and to the distant mountains. At first, I thought that this painting didn’t have a lot of thin lines, but when I looked at it closer, the foam from the waves are very detailed due to thin lines. He used very little detail on the background. Generally backgrounds are not supposed to be…

18th and 19th centuries many western artists, both in Europe and America, were influenced by the influx of Japanese design and ukiyo-e prints. Considering this phenomenon, an artwork I chose to write about that you can see this in is Vincent van Gogh’s canvas painting Bridge in the Rain. In 1886 Van Gogh moved to Paris and was introduced to Japonism and ukiyo-e because his brother ran an art gallery and he lived next to one. He was fascinated with the designs, colors, and compositions of the…

a car, noticing every stranger in a vehicle, making their obtrusive expressions without knowing that someone is watching, more misshapen with the magnification distortion. It passes a woman gazing out towards the urban landscape, focusing on the fire escape stairs, rusted, and forgotten. Her eyes painfully close from the sharp beginnings of an inflamed thought. A red neon light sign ''sizzler" from outside is turned on, shocking her eyes back open. Instantly, it is captured by the aqua lens,…

The artistry captivates the audience from the opening credits with oriental scenery and music that astounds the senses. Even Roger Ebert agrees when he comments, “...in the depiction of nature, there's an echo of the master artist Hiroshige.” Animators adopted oriental techniques to seamlessly translate the beauty of the culture into detailed buildings and mesmerizing landscapes comparable to the work of a legend. These visual effects blend with the music to hypnotize the audience. The music not…

From the amazing gold screens, to paintings the Japanese styles flourished inspirationally. Out of all the styles, I was more interested in the Ukiyo-e prints, which were very new to me and can be described as the ”world or pleasure” or the “floating world”. Although, these were short lasting, these artworks reflect the growing power of the merchant and middle class. This interested me because for once it wasn’t just about the most in power. Another thing that stood out to me was that these…

lot of attention from visitors, but some of the city’s 400-plus shrines are also first-rate attractions in their own right. Kyoto is Japan in a nutshell. It’s the cultural and historical heart of the country. It’s the best place in all Japan. To Example traditional temples, shrines, gardens, geisha, restaurants and festivals. In short, Kyoto is the most rewarding destination in all of Japan and it should be at the top of any Japan travel itinerary. Indeed, I may be biased, but I’d go so far as…

artwork. One religious oil-on-canvas painting is Adam and Eve by Jean François de Troy still on the second floor demonstrates that religion can be incorporated into artwork and may be considered as an art in worship and ritual especially through the ideas of Christianity radiate from the painting with creationism. The serene environment with the animals and trees encompassing the innocent two figures demonstrates the peace and tranquility before their supposedly next consequential actions of…