Hanga

Edo Period

江戸時代

1603–1868

About the Edo Period

The Edo period saw the rise of ukiyo-e, the iconic woodblock print tradition depicting the floating world of pleasure districts, kabuki actors, beautiful women, and landscapes. Under the Tokugawa shogunate's peaceful rule, a thriving urban culture in Edo (modern Tokyo) fueled demand for affordable printed art. Masters like Hokusai and Hiroshige transformed the medium from commercial illustration into a respected art form, producing series that would later inspire Western Impressionists and Art Nouveau.

Movements (1)

Artistic movements active during the Edo Period

Meiji/Taishō Prints

明治大正版画

c. 1868–1926

Artists (15)

Artists active during the Edo Period

Kitagawa Utamaro, Japanese print artist

Kitagawa Utamaro

喜多川歌麿

1753–1806

Katsushika Hokusai, Japanese print artist

Katsushika Hokusai

葛飾北斎

1760–1849

Utagawa Hiroshige, Japanese print artist

Utagawa Hiroshige

歌川広重

1797–1858

Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Japanese print artist

Utagawa Kuniyoshi

歌川国芳

1798–1861

Kawanabe Kyosai, Japanese print artist

Kawanabe Kyosai

河鍋暁斎

1831–1889

Toyohara Chikanobu, Japanese print artist

Toyohara Chikanobu

豊原周延

1838–1912

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, Japanese print artist

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi

月岡芳年

1839–1892

Kobayashi Kiyochika, Japanese print artist

Kobayashi Kiyochika

小林清親

1847–1915

Watanabe Seitei, Japanese print artist

Watanabe Seitei

渡辺省亭

1851–1918

Asai Chu, Japanese print artist

Asai Chu

浅井忠

1856–1907

Ogata Gekko, Japanese print artist

Ogata Gekko

尾形月耕

1859–1920

Charles W. Bartlett, Japanese print artist

Charles W. Bartlett

1860–1940

Inoue Yasuji, Japanese print artist

Inoue Yasuji

井上安治

1864–1889

H

Helen Hyde

1868–1913

Ogawa Usen, Japanese print artist

Ogawa Usen

小川芋銭

1868–1938

Notable Works

Works created during the Edo Period

No Title by Kitagawa Utamaro

No Title

1753–1806

color woodblock print

Yoshiwara Women Looking into the Street at Springtime by Kitagawa Utamaro

Yoshiwara Women Looking into the Street at Springtime

1753–1806

color woodblock print

Half-length Portrait of Two Courtesans by Kitagawa Utamaro

Half-length Portrait of Two Courtesans

1753–1806

color woodblock print

Chōzan of Chōjiya from the series Triptych of Beauties Before Blinds by Kitagawa Utamaro

Chōzan of Chōjiya from the series Triptych of Beauties Before Blinds

1753–1806

color woodblock print

Woman of the Yoshiwara by Kitagawa Utamaro

Woman of the Yoshiwara

1753–1806

color woodblock print

Daimyō and his Retinue Crossing a Stream in Plain Near Fuji by Kitagawa Utamaro

Daimyō and his Retinue Crossing a Stream in Plain Near Fuji

1753–1806

color woodblock print

Making Love by Kitagawa Utamaro

Making Love

1753–1806

color woodblock print

Man and Woman by Kitagawa Utamaro

Man and Woman

1753–1806

color woodblock print

Contemporary Beauties Third by Kitagawa Utamaro

Contemporary Beauties Third

1753–1806

color woodblock print

Courtesans and Attendants by Kitagawa Utamaro

Courtesans and Attendants

1753–1806

color woodblock print

Serenade by Kitagawa Utamaro

Serenade

1753–1806

color woodblock print

Two Courtesans by Kitagawa Utamaro

Two Courtesans

1753–1806

color woodblock print

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