The enthralling craftsmanship of traditional Japanese woodblock prints
In the heart of London, the British Museum is currently hosting an exhibition titled 'Hiroshige, artist of the open road'. The showcase offers a unique insight into the impact of the renowned Japanese artist Hiroshige on contemporary artists, such as Julian Opie.
The exhibition serves as a testament to the enduring influence of Hiroshige's work, with pieces like 'Plum Estate, Kameido' and 'Sudden Shower over Shin-Ohashi Bridge and Atake' fetching impressive sums of £13,970 and £52,920, respectively, in a recent sale.
The fascination with Japanese art in the West can be traced back to as early as 1825, with the exhibition of Japanese objects in London during the Great Exhibition. This interest continued to grow, with displays in Dublin in 1853 and the opening of Japan to the world in 1854 having a significant impact on Western art and fashion.
The 1854 opening also marked the beginning of Japanese selling shows in galleries such as the Old Watercolour Society's Pall Mall gallery, with the V&A Museum being a notable buyer. This period, known as Japonisme, reached a frenzy at the London and Paris International Exhibitions of 1862 and 1867.
One of the most iconic ukiyo-e prints, 'The Great Wave' by Hokusai, created in 1831, is one of the most widely known ukiyo-e prints. In July 2021, Dreweatts of Newbury auctioned 122 fine examples of ukiyo-e prints, with a Great Wave making the top price of £378,000. The Great Wave was previously owned by Thomas Sturge Moore, a noted wood-engraver, illustrator, author, and poet.
Ukiyo-e woodblock color prints had the most immediate and long-lived influence on advanced European artists. Artists like Vincent Van Gogh were particularly inspired by Utagawa Hiroshige and Hokusai's 'Fuji' series.
Huon Mallalieu, the author of this article, is a freelance writer specializing in art and antiques. He has been writing for our platform since 1990 and has written on exhibitions in The Oldie. Mallalieu is also the author of books such as 'Understanding Watercolours' (1985), 'Antiques Roadshow A-Z of Antiques Hunting' (1996), and '1066 and Rather More' (2009). His upcoming book, 'In the Ear of the Beholder', will be published by Thomas Del Mar in 2025.
If a print in Japan proved popular, later impressions might be issued from the blocks, requiring collectors to inform themselves before buying. This need for discernment adds to the allure and excitement of collecting ukiyo-e prints.
In conclusion, the influence of ukiyo-e on Western art is undeniable. From the early exhibitions in the 19th century to the current appreciation of Hiroshige's work, ukiyo-e continues to captivate and inspire artists and collectors alike.
