Meiji Period Prints (1868-1912)
Meiji-period woodblock prints reflect an era of change. In 1853, the arrival of Commodore Perry’s black ships brought over 250 years of Japanese isolation to an abrupt end. The following year, as Japan engaged in international trade, Yokohama-e (Yokohama pictures) captured an influx of unfamiliar peoples, places and things entering Japan through Yokohama harbor. By 1868, the Imperial line attained control of the country under Emperor Meiji, terminating the feudal rule of the Tokugawa Shogunate and dissipating the culture of the floating world. Under the emperor, national modernization progressed rapidly. From Western-style clothes and pastimes, to exciting new inventions from overseas, Japan absorbed the massive influx of the foreign and developed a distinctly Japanese modern identity. While photography and lithography gained popularity at this time, the woodblock print continued to serve as a powerful medium. Meiji period artists made sense of a transitioning world with a familiar medium.
11 Products
Yoshiiku
Yomogiu: Otakutaro Mitsukuni Encounters Hobgoblins
JP110482
Kyosai
The Husband's Beloved Red Hat, Shaking Like the Ghost of the Potato Jelly
JP-208817
Yoshitora
The Defeat of Evil Foxes in Old and New Stories
JPR1-51501
Yoshitoshi
Hihi Coming Down from Mountain to Collect His Meal
JP-107311
Yoshitoshi
Shimura Masazo Katsutoyo Captures Yamauba Alive
JPR-104034