Hagoromo in Ukiyo-e

 #ukiyo-e #hagoromo #japanese prints 

HAGOROMO in Ukiyo-e 

Hiroshige has focused on the maiden herself suggesting she is changing into a bird and showing us some of the foreshore at TAGO which is still a popular picnic spot partly because of this legend but also for the views across the bay of FujiSan 

Chikanobu however seems to have thinking of both the Noh play the original legend and his love of detailed costumes though his Celestial Maiden seems to be wearing Chinese fabrics and the feathers drape over branches as if they were fabric. 

I wonder if someone had done a Kabuki version of the Noh play?

Don't forget to scroll back to the partner post to this one showing photos of Noh actor costumes.

Hiroshige - HIRASAN

 HIROSHIGE - HIRASAN 

HIRASAN is a range of mountains north east of the Kyoto basin now known for a scenic drive and ski fields. Snow on these peaks is one of the Eight Views of OMI?

Once again Hiroshige shows his mastery of color and tone. There are only two colors used black and blue but every raised surface on the block that impressed ink onto the paper renders shadow and shape and the colorist has carefully tinted the block to reflect the tones of a whatever watercolor sketch Hiroshige sent them.

I have no idea what village that is in the foreground probably judging from the angle somewhere north of Otsu that is now a suburb of that city.

And theres the contrast creating depth between the line work in the foreground of trees houses people and the nearest slopes and raising up so high just a shape with no outline just whiteness raising against a gray wintery sky.

HIROSHIGE 

truly one of the greats!

Mountains - Tateyama

#mountains #tateyama #Hiroshige #japaneseprint

Having shown you a Chinese #shansui #landscape last time this time one of Hiroshige's lesser known print. There is some exaggeration or perhaps erosion since the late 18th century? but yes Tateyama is not so much one mountain as several peaks grouped together. The mist and fog in the foreground are rising from a lake and the local climate and geography is such that there are lush forests raising from flat bottomed valleys almost subtropical yet small glaciers and snow and alpine habitats around the peaks! And the famous snow corridor! 

A Summer rain medley.

 japaneseprints #ukiyo-e #prints #summer rain #rain 

A Summer Rain Medley

Here are some prints contrasting various ways of depicting summer rain.

Shigenobu Night Rain at Akasaka 

Hiroshige Summer Rain Suhara 

Kiyonaga Storm Scene

SUMMER RAIN - HIROSHIGE

 

SUMMER RAIN AT SUHARA BY HIROSHIGE 

#suhara #hiroshige #japaneseprint #rain

There are many reasons to admire and enjoy Hiroshige's works. 

Firstly in this work the skilful use of ink gradients in the coloring. Tones of blue and gray mingling or spreading in parallel bands to create and depth.

Secondly his ability to suggest a vast background even with very little detail. The thin dark ban across the top suggests the rainstorm  is going to be a heavy prolonged one. The dark tones of the trees reinforce this.

Thirdly we have the human details the travellers running for shelter on a tiny entry way and the rider and his horse plodding along bent over like the the person walking behind them hindered by the very weight of the rain.

Hiroshige has taken a ordinary summer moment and transformed it to its essentials to a few lines and colors and made yet another masterpiece.

Rain at Kanazawa by Hiroshige

 #hiroshige #kanazawa #japaneseprint 

Continuing our Rain Theme here's a print by Hiroshige 

Kanazawa Rain 

Note how the rain obscured mountains or trees in the distance are balanced by the hut roofs and I think stacks of hay from rice or smaller huts in the middle right and foreground.

Note also the use of diagonals.

A "masterclass" in how to use greys and pale tints without an image becoming dreary

HIROSHIGE SURIMONO

 #Hiroshige #surimono #print #yearoftheox

Not a typical subject for Hiroshige  but an image showing he could equal Hokusai and other ukiyo-e artists in drawing a variety of themes and matching his compositions to the layout of various print formats. The details of the yoke harness and plow are also of interest for social history. 

I love the little detail of the farmer's beard shadow. Also the balanced use of gray middle tones to unify the separate elements of the bull the farmers clothings and the mountains in the background.

Sakura Season

#cherries #Sakura #hiroshige #japaneseprint 

ITS SAKURA SEASON AGAIN 

Expect posts on Sakura in Japanese art and peotry throughout April 2020 !

When Meguro was a Green Hill 2 views by Hiroshige

#Hiroshige seems to have been like many #Edo residents fond of visiting #Meguro

#japaneseprints #landscapeprints

When Meguro was a Green Hill 

The building in the lower right corner is a teahouse. Nowadays I've read Meguro is more noted for coffee and laneways with small shops. 

Another view by Hiroshige. The river is still there though partly canalized and smaller. 

How things have changed over the years and centuries! 

There are other prints by Hiroshige and others on this theme. These seem to be 2 of the best?

Ochanomizu Two

#ochanomizu #edo #tokyo #japaneseprints

Once upon a time only a century and a few more decades Ochanomizu had NO tall buildings!

This is Hiroshige's view of it. Mid 19th century

A mid 20th century view.

How things have changed!

Early Omi Hakkei Prints

So you love #ukiyo-e ?
 You've heard of #omihakkei #hakkei and seen copies of the famous set by #hiroshige ?

Did you know he was not the first artist to do prints on that theme?

This is by Utagawa Toyoharu 

He's tried to fit all of the Hakkei onto one print and has rather distorted the proportions to include everything. The Ishiyamadera was further down the river that flows out from Lake Biwa and he has included an old castle that has since been destroyed tho a small park marks its site. Otsu ss shown as a village which is now a suburb of the modern city. Curiously though the the site of the moorings for the trade ships and barges is still a marina.

Other artists who dealt with the Hakkei theme often did so indirectly. Study the background in this Harunobu print. It is actually an Edo scene but refers to the Omi Hakkei tradition by depicting boats.

The tradition of comparing Edo scenes to those of the Omi Hakkei is also used by Hiroshige himslef in this print. Thats not geese returning to Katata. That's Umida !

Whereas this is Katata !

Two Porcine Delights

Some Porcine Delights for the YEAR for the PIG

#yearofthepig #asianart

Despite the Pig being an Asian "Zodiac" animal I could not find any really good older ukiyo-e calendar prints! I did however find this print by Hiroshige of a wild boar.

I also found this photo of an antique Tsuba featuring Marici riding a boar.