“Ukiyo-e, the Record of a Splendid Era” Exhibition

Able Fine Art NY Gallery

This event has ended.

Able Fine Art NY Gallery presents the Special Exhibition “Ukiyo-e, the Record of a Splendid Era.” Ukiyo-e (うきよえ), comprised of woodblock print and paintings, depicts the common people consisted of the newly formed merchant class (Jonin) of the Japanese Edo era. Recording the scandals and customs of the time, Ukiyo-e covers a variety of themes including portraits, paintings, depictions, and poems based on Kabuki actors of the Kabuki Theater Yoshihara.

The subject encompasses not just the human world, but also that transcends reality. Initially produced to distribute information on fashion trends, Ukiyo-e went on to influence the French Impressionists, such as Van Gogh, Paul Cezanne, and Edouard Manet as it was introduced to Europe, along with the ceramics, in the middle of the 19th Century.

The boldness of screen composition, colorful and intense colors, and elaborate craft patterns fascinated those who encountered mysterious oriental artifacts. In this special exhibition, the audience will be able to view the original woodblock prints and paintings of the seven famous Ukiyo-e artists, including, Torii Kiyomitsu, Utagawa Toyokuni, and Tousyuusai Syaraku and purchase the original portraits of Kabuki actors.