Yushin, Ayaoka (1846 - 1910 )
Ayaoka Yushin was a painter, calligrapher and woodblock print artist working during the Meiji period. The son of Terumatsu Ikeda, Ayaoka studied under Zeshin Shibata and specialized in the kacho-e, or “bird-and-flower pictures”, genre. Though he was one of Zeshin's best students, little is known about Ayaoka today. His work can be found in collections such as the British Museum and the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.
Ukiyo-e | Japanese Woodblock Prints | Ronin Gallery
Explore the largest collection of 17th-19th century original Japanese woodblock prints in the United States at Ronin Gallery. Ukiyo-e, or “pictures of the floating world,” captured the exciting urban popular culture of the Edo period (1603-1868), promoting its beauty, fashions and heroes. While the Buddhist term ukiyo originally emphasized the transitory nature of human life, during the 17th century the term gradually shifted its reference to the ephemeral world of pleasure and indulgence. From 17th century Buddhist woodcuts through 19th century Japanese ukiyo-e print masters, enter a vibrant world of enchanting landscapes and sublime nature studies by Hokusai and Hiroshige, dramatic kabuki actors by Sharaku and Toyokuni, fierce samurai by Kuniyoshi, and elegant beauties by Utamaro. With the ravages of time, war and fire, today few of these precious original Japanese woodblock prints survive outside of museums and important private collections.