The History of Japanese Prints: from Ukiyo-e to Shin-hanga

From ukiyo-e to shin-hanga, Japanese prints reveal a fascinating journey: a popular yet refined art that traveled from Japan to Europe, inspiring major Western painters. Between tradition and modernity, their evolution reflects cultural exchanges and changing tastes.

Origins of Japanese Woodblock Printing

The art of Japanese woodblock printing, known as mokuhanga, emerged in the 17th century. Borrowed from Chinese techniques, it was first used for religious purposes, printing Buddhist images and sacred texts...

By the mid-17th century, Edo’s urban growth and the rise of a wealthy merchant class gave birth to a new popular culture: ukiyo-e, or “pictures of the floating world,” celebrating kabuki actors, courtesans, landscapes, and daily life scenes.

The Golden Age of Ukiyo-e (18th – 19th centuries)

Prints became refined yet accessible, affordable cultural goods that circulated widely and were collected or displayed temporarily in Japanese interiors.

Pioneers

• Hishikawa Moronobu (1618-1694): regarded as the founder of ukiyo-e.
• Suzuki Harunobu (1725-1770): introduced full-color printing (nishiki-e).

Masters of Portrait and Theater

• Kitagawa Utamaro (1753-1806): renowned for bijin-ga (pictures of beauties).
• Tōshūsai Sharaku (active 1794-1795): striking portraits of kabuki actors.

Masters of Landscape

• Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849): creator of Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji.
• Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858): poetic landscapes influencing Impressionists.

The Rediscovery of Ukiyo-e in the West

In the mid-19th century, Japan’s opening led to ukiyo-e prints flooding Europe, sometimes as mere wrapping paper. Western artists such as Monet, Van Gogh, and Toulouse-Lautrec admired their compositions and colors, sparking Japonisme, which deeply shaped modern art.

The 20th-Century Revival: Shin-hanga

In the early 20th century, publisher Watanabe Shōzaburō launched the shin-hanga (“new prints”) movement, renewing traditional woodblock printing for an international market.

Key Artists of Shin-hanga

• Kawase Hasui (1883-1957): master of atmospheric landscapes.
• Itō Shinsui (1898-1972): refined female portraits blending tradition and modernity.
• Hashiguchi Goyō (1880-1921): elegant depictions of women and interiors.

Conclusion

The history of Japanese prints shows the evolution from popular, ephemeral images (ukiyo-e) to collectible art (shin-hanga). From Utamaro’s beauties to Hokusai’s waves, Hiroshige’s landscapes to Hasui’s poetic visions, each era produced masterpieces that continue to inspire worldwide.