Painters: How to Experience Ukiyo-e Making with Authentic Artisans in Tokyo(1)
Today, let’s explore the “painters.” The artisans responsible for creating the sketches, known as the “Eshi,” include renowned figures such as Kitagawa Utamaro, Katsushika Hokusai, Utagawa Hiroshige, and Sharaku, among others. During the Edo period, the “Hanmoto” commissioned these artists based on the prevailing trends and preferences of the time.
Additionally, ukiyo-e also addressed contemporary issues, such as the appearance of “Namazu-e (catfish sketch)” following major earthquakes or “Hōsō-e (smallpox sketch)” created during epidemics like smallpox, the latter of which gained attention during the COVID-19 pandemic and was exhibited at the Sumida Hokusai Museum. In the Edo period, a folk belief circulated among the populace that catfish caused major earthquakes, leading to the creation of ‘Namazu-e’ prints as a form of reprimand against catfish. Similarly, ‘hōsō-e’ prints, characterized by their solid red color, were believed to possess protective powers against epidemics and misfortune.
One of Hokusai’s most famous works, “Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji: The Great Wave off Kanagawa,” is set to feature on the reverse side of the new 1,000-yen banknote starting from the fiscal year 2024 (with Kitasato Shibasaburō on the front side). The issuance of the new banknotes is scheduled to commence on July 2024. Moreover, Hokusai’s “Thirty-six Views” and other masterpieces adorn the newly redesigned passports introduced in February 2020.
While traditional ukiyo-e artisans no longer exist, contemporary artists continue to produce paintings that complement the ukiyo-e style, which is then transformed into woodblock prints.
