Showing Posts From
Ukiyo e
Kuniyoshi: Cats, Skeletons, and Satire — Meet Ukiyo-e's Great Outsider
Fierce warrior prints, a colossal skeleton, political cartoons slipped past the censors, and an overwhelming love of cats — Kuniyoshi was unlike any other ukiyo-e artist. Here's why his work still feels completely alive.
Kuniyoshi's Cats: Ukiyo-e's Greatest Cat Lover
Cats performing kabuki, cats running fish stalls, cats standing in for political satire — Kuniyoshi's love of cats produced some of the most charming and surprisingly sharp prints in all of ukiyo-e. A guide for cat lovers everywhere.
Ghosts, Monsters, and Ukiyo-e: The Art That Became J-Horror and Anime
The ghost in The Ring, the spirits in Studio Ghibli, the demons in Demon Slayer — their visual language traces directly back to Edo-period woodblock prints. A guide to Japan's long, rich tradition of beautiful, unsettling art.
- 27 May, 2026
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Aiiro
Sharaku: The Artist Who Appeared for Ten Months and Vanished
Who was Sharaku? The mysterious ukiyo-e master appeared in 1794, produced around 140 stunning actor portraits, and disappeared ten months later — leaving one of art history's most captivating unsolved mysteries.
Ukiyo-e and Anime: Japan's 400-Year Visual DNA
From Hokusai's bold outlines to Miyazaki's compositions — ukiyo-e and anime share 400 years of visual DNA. Discover the connections you never knew were there.
Best Museums to See Ukiyo-e in Tokyo (2026 Visitor Guide)
Where to see real ukiyo-e prints in Tokyo — a practical guide to the Ōta Memorial Museum, Sumida Hokusai Museum, and Tokyo National Museum.
Hiroshige and the 53 Stations of the Tōkaidō: A Visual Journey
Rain, snow, mountain passes at dusk — Hiroshige's Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō is one of the greatest journey narratives in art history. Here's why.
Utamaro's Women: Understanding Bijin-ga (Beautiful Women Prints)
Kitagawa Utamaro transformed how women were depicted in ukiyo-e. Here's what makes bijin-ga — and Utamaro's gaze in particular — so enduring.
How Ukiyo-e Changed Western Art: The Story of Japonisme
In 1856, a single ukiyo-e print arrived in Paris as packing material — and changed Western art forever. The story of Japonisme and its lasting legacy.
- 25 Apr, 2026
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- Aiiro
Hokusai's Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji: A Journey Through All 46 Prints
Most people who know The Great Wave don't know it was the first print in a series of forty-six. A guide to the prints that stay with you.
- 22 Apr, 2026
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- Aiiro
Mount Fuji in Japanese Art: 36 Views and Beyond
For the Japanese, Mount Fuji has never been just a mountain. Here's how Edo-period faith, Hokusai, and Hiroshige turned it into the most painted peak in art history.
Hokusai: The Artist Who Never Stopped Learning
He changed his name thirty times, moved house ninety-three times, and made his most famous work at seventy-two. A life defined by curiosity.
How Ukiyo-e Prints Were Made: The Woodblock Printing Process
How were ukiyo-e woodblock prints actually made? Discover the four craftsmen behind every print, the step-by-step process, and why imperfections can be a good sign.
- 01 Apr, 2026
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- Aiiro
What is Ukiyo-e? A Complete Beginner's Guide
What is ukiyo-e? Discover the art of Japan's floating world — from its philosophical roots to Hokusai, Hiroshige, and the moment it changed Western art forever.