🎎Arts of East Asia Unit 11 – Japanese Art: Azuchi-Momoyama & Edo Eras

Historical Context

• Azuchi-Momoyama period (1573-1603) marked the end of the Sengoku period and the unification of Japan under the rule of Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi
• Edo period (1603-1868) began with the establishment of the Tokugawa shogunate by Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1603
  • Also known as the Tokugawa period, characterized by strict social order, isolationist foreign policies, and economic growth
• Rise of the merchant class during the Edo period led to increased patronage of the arts and the development of new artistic styles
• Political stability and economic prosperity during the Edo period allowed for the flourishing of arts and culture
• Edo period ended with the Meiji Restoration in 1868, which marked the beginning of Japan's modernization and opening to the West

Key Artistic Movements

• Rinpa school, founded by Tawaraya Sōtatsu and Hon'ami Kōetsu, emphasized decorative and stylized designs inspired by classical literature and poetry
• Ukiyo-e, or "pictures of the floating world," became popular during the Edo period and depicted scenes from everyday life, landscapes, and famous actors and courtesans
  • Ukiyo-e prints were mass-produced using woodblock printing techniques and became accessible to a wide audience
• Nanga, or "Southern painting," was influenced by Chinese literati painting and emphasized personal expression and brushwork
• Kanō school, which had been dominant since the Muromachi period, continued to produce large-scale paintings for the ruling class during the Azuchi-Momoyama and Edo periods
• Rimpa school, an offshoot of the Rinpa school, emerged in the 18th century and was known for its bold compositions and use of gold and silver leaf

Famous Artists and Works

• Tawaraya Sōtatsu (c. 1570-1640), co-founder of the Rinpa school, known for his screen paintings such as "Wind and Thunder Gods" and "Waves at Matsushima"
• Hon'ami Kōetsu (1558-1637), co-founder of the Rinpa school, renowned for his calligraphy and lacquerware designs
• Ogata Kōrin (1658-1716), prominent Rinpa school artist, famous for his screen painting "Red and White Plum Blossoms" and the "Irises" byōbu folding screen
• Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849), ukiyo-e artist, creator of the iconic "The Great Wave off Kanagawa" and the series "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji"
• Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858), ukiyo-e artist, known for his landscape prints, including the series "The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō"
• Maruyama Ōkyo (1733-1795), founder of the Maruyama school, which combined Western realism with traditional Japanese techniques, famous for his screen painting "Cranes"

Techniques and Materials

• Woodblock printing, the primary method for producing ukiyo-e prints, involved carving designs into wooden blocks, inking them, and pressing them onto paper
  • Multiple blocks were used to create multi-colored prints, with each block representing a different color
• Hanging scrolls (kakemono) and handscrolls (emakimono) were common formats for paintings, often featuring silk or paper mounted on a flexible backing
• Folding screens (byōbu) and sliding doors (fusuma) were used to decorate interior spaces and often featured large-scale paintings
• Ink painting (sumi-e) involved the use of black ink and brushes to create calligraphic and painterly effects, often on paper or silk
• Gold and silver leaf were frequently used to add a luxurious and decorative element to paintings, particularly in the Rinpa and Rimpa schools
• Lacquerware, which involved the application of multiple layers of lacquer to wooden objects, was often decorated with intricate designs and inlaid with gold, silver, or mother-of-pearl

Cultural Influences

• Neo-Confucianism, which emphasized loyalty, filial piety, and social hierarchy, had a significant impact on Edo period society and art
• The tea ceremony (chanoyu) and its associated arts, such as ceramics and calligraphy, influenced aesthetic sensibilities and the appreciation of simplicity and rusticity
• Kabuki theater and its depiction of famous actors and scenes in ukiyo-e prints helped to popularize the art form among the masses
• The pleasure districts of Edo (modern-day Tokyo), particularly the Yoshiwara, were frequent subjects in ukiyo-e prints and literature
• Chinese literati painting and poetry had a significant influence on the development of Nanga and the literati culture in Japan
• Buddhism and Shinto, Japan's two primary religions, influenced the subject matter and symbolism in art, particularly in the depiction of deities, saints, and religious scenes

Symbolism and Themes

• Cherry blossoms (sakura) symbolized the fleeting nature of life and beauty, a concept central to Japanese aesthetics
• Cranes represented longevity, good fortune, and fidelity, and were often depicted in screen paintings and other decorative arts
• Mount Fuji, Japan's tallest peak, was a frequent subject in ukiyo-e prints and symbolized national identity, beauty, and spiritual significance
• Kintsugi, the art of repairing broken ceramics with gold, represented the acceptance and appreciation of imperfections and the passage of time
• The four seasons and their associated plants and animals (e.g., autumn maples, winter snow) were common themes in paintings and poetry, reflecting the Japanese appreciation of nature and the passage of time
• Dragons, phoenixes, and tigers were auspicious symbols often depicted in paintings and decorative arts, representing power, wisdom, and good fortune

Impact on Modern Art

• Ukiyo-e prints had a significant influence on Western artists in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists (e.g., Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet)
  • This influence, known as Japonisme, can be seen in the use of flat colors, asymmetrical compositions, and the emphasis on everyday subjects
• Japanese aesthetics and design principles, such as simplicity, asymmetry, and the appreciation of nature, have had a lasting impact on modern art and design movements (e.g., Minimalism, Scandinavian design)
• The Rinpa school's emphasis on decorative and stylized designs has influenced contemporary graphic design and illustration
• Contemporary Japanese artists, such as Takashi Murakami and Yayoi Kusama, have drawn inspiration from traditional Japanese art forms while incorporating modern themes and techniques
• The popularity of manga and anime in contemporary global culture can be traced back to the narrative and visual traditions established in the Edo period, particularly in ukiyo-e prints and illustrated books

Fun Facts and Trivia

• The term "ukiyo," which means "floating world," originally referred to the Buddhist concept of the transient nature of life, but came to be associated with the hedonistic lifestyle of the Edo period urban culture
• Katsushika Hokusai created the "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji" series when he was in his 70s, demonstrating that artistic creativity can flourish at any age
• The Great Wave off Kanagawa, one of Hokusai's most famous prints, has been reproduced and parodied countless times in popular culture, from book covers to emoji
• Utagawa Hiroshige's "The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō" series depicted the various stops along the Tōkaidō road, which connected Edo (Tokyo) to Kyoto, and became a popular souvenir for travelers
• The Rinpa school artist Ogata Kōrin was also known for his innovative textile designs, which featured bold patterns and bright colors
• The Edo period saw the rise of "ukiyo-zōshi," or "books of the floating world," which were popular illustrated novels that often depicted the lives of the urban merchant class and the pleasure quarters
• During the Edo period, the Japanese government implemented strict sumptuary laws that regulated the clothing, food, and entertainment of different social classes, which had an impact on the art and culture of the time