There are two types of ukiyo-e.It is a woodblock print called Nikuhitsu Ukiyo-e and Nishiki-e.
I would like to explain these two.

Meaning of Ukiyo-e

Originally, “Ukiyo-e” in Ukiyo-e is derived from the Buddhist term “Ukiyo 浮き世→憂き世”.It is a word that expresses the changing world, such as spicy and ephemeral.Ukiyo-e is a work that depicts trends, traditions, culture, history, and events.The definition of ukiyo-e artist was not clear either.

Origin of Ukiyo-e

Many of the original works of Ukiyo-e are Rinpa(琳派), Kano(狩野), and Tosa(土佐) schools.The first work was a large work, many of which were ordered by Bakuhu officials and daimyo, and at first it was not a small work like Ukiyo-e, but a large work like a folding screen.

There is an episode of how important the works of art of the time were.

The above picture is a work that is currently designated as a national treasure of Japan.This work is owned by Nobunaga Oda, who was a patron at the time of 1565 (Eitoku 8period) by Eitoku Kano (there is a production theory by another painter), and was sent to Kenshin Uesugi in the 1574(Tensho 2period). (There are various theories about the age when the work was produced)This year was also the year when Oda Nobunaga織田信長 lost to Uesugi Kenshin 上杉謙信 in the battle of the Tedori River. It was a bad situation for Nobunaga. The above work was sent to Uesugi Kenshin to restore the relationship. Such folding screens, tea utensils, and foreign items were key items for the daimyo at that time to move politics. The feature is that expensive painting materials such as gold were used to make a large work.

About Nikuhitsu-ga(肉筆画)

Nikuhitsuga is a work drawn by ukiyo-e artist on silk or paper by hand at the request of patrons.The history of Nikuhitsu Ukiyo-e is old and began around the 1688(Genroku period).

At the beginning, Nikuhitsu Ukiyo-e was a person named Hishikawa Moronobu 菱川師宣 .

Hand-painted drawing of the studio system

懐月堂派 Kaigetsudou school

After the success of Hishikawa Moronobu, a person named Kaigetsudo Ando 懐月堂安堂 (birth and death years unknown) played an active part around the Shotoku era (1700 ~ 20).
There was a workshop in Asakusa Suwa-cho, but this is not a woodblock print but a hand-painted workshop. Each composition is fixed, and we were able to produce a certain number by combining them. His disciples had five people: Achi(安知), Dokoku(度種), Toshihide(度秀), Totatsu(度辰), and Toshige(度繁).

About Nishiki-e(錦絵)

Nishiki-e refers to ukiyo-e woodblock prints.It is a completed form of woodblock print ukiyo-e by the division of labor of the publisher(版元), the painter(浮世絵師), caver(彫師), and the Plinter(摺師).

The birth of Nishiki-e is a little newer than that of hand-painted paintings, and begins around 1660-70.Nishiki-e began to develop around 1730, and the end was around the end of the Meiji era.

The publisher(版元) plays an active role in the development of Nishiki-e.A representative publisher is Tsutaya Juzaburo 蔦屋重三郎.

A representative publisher is Tsutaya Juzaburo.
He has published ukiyo-e prints by ukiyo-e artists such as Utamaro Kitagawa, Hiroshige Utagawa, and Keisai Eisen.
The publisher provided painting materials to the popular ukiyo-e artist and introduced new patrons.

painter specializing in Nikuhitsuga or nishiki-e?

Nishiki-e and Nikuhitsuga are the same Ukiyo-e, but if they are hand-painted works, the artist’s drawing power will appear.If it is a hand-painted work, there are many rivals in paintings other than ukiyo-e artists such as the Kano school(狩野派), Rinpa school, and Shijo school.Among(四条派) them, ukiyo-e artists were customers of wealthy merchants, wealthy farmers, and wealthy middle class.

The famous ukiyo-e artist almost always draws nishiki-e.

Representative figures include Suzuki Harunobu 鈴木春信,Kitagawa Utamaro 喜多川歌麿, and Utagawa hiroshige歌川広重.Nishiki-e also had an effect as an advertisement, not as a work of art.

The photo at the top is one of Utamaro’s representative works.As the title suggests, it depicts a beautiful woman who was popular in Edo during the Kansei period.

The photo above is one of Hiroshige’s representative series.This work was originally sold as a souvenir for travel.

Famous ukiyo-e artists almost always draw Nikuhitsu-ga(肉筆画).Nishiki-e is made by the publisher’s order, while Nikuhitsuga is made by an individual order. Therefore, the work is produced with enthusiasm.The relationship here is similar to the relationship between European patrons and painters.

Ukiyo-e in the Meiji period

At the beginning of the Meiji era, I used to draw illustrations for newspapers and textbooks.

Kuniteru’s work depicts how cedar trees are cultivated and used, and Toshichik and Toshikazu ‘s work depicts proverbs and ancient affairs.

However Nishiki-e declined due to machine printing in the middle of the Meiji period.

Nikuhitsu Ukiyo-e in the Meiji period

Not limited to ukiyo-e, after the Meiji Restoration, a major change occurred in Japanese painting as a whole.

A country-based exhibition was held.
Especially large exhibitions are the “National Industrial Exhibition(内国勧業博覧会)” and the “Inland Painting Co-Promotion(内国絵画共進会)”.After that, it became a boom that exhibitions were held in various parts of Japan.Ukiyo-e artists who had been looking for patrons individually and ukiyo-e artists who were drawing nishiki-e began to draw works to be exhibited at the exhibition.

However, some painters did not exhibit at the exhibition and searched for customers individually.Ukiyo-e artists who continued from the Meiji period tended to do so.

The flow of ukiyo-e artists is divided into Shinhanga(新版画) and Sousaku hanga(創作版画) from the Taisho to the Showa period.

Nikuhitsu Ukiyo-e sold at this shop

We have some hand-painted ukiyo-e prints in our shop, so I will introduce them.

This work was made by a person named Utagawa　Yoshimune(1863-1941).This ukiyo-e artist is a disciple of his father, Yoshimune Utagawa and Yoshitoshi Tsukioka.By the Meiji era, he was drawing ukiyo-e and novel illustrations.
His style of painting was Yoshitoshi style, and he drew samurai and ancient affairs.From the Taisho era to the Showa era, he produced Nikuhitsuga and Shinhanga.
Since there is no exhibition record at the exhibition, I think I was making a work when I received an order.

Gekko Ogata is an ukiyo-e artist who studied about Kikuchi Yosai.
There are many historical paintings and genre paintings in the style of Yosai rather than the style of Utagawa school.His real name is Seijiro Nagami 名鏡清次郎,He was conscious of “Ogata Korin尾形光琳”, the ancestor of the Rinpa school, and called himself Ogata Gekko.

Kunimine Utagawa was the grandson of Kunisada Utagawa and also drew illustrations for newspapers in Kansai.
He was drawing works to be exhibited such as exhibitions.
The style is Utagawa-style painting, such as bijin-ga, genre painting, and samurai.

It is unknown whether the work was exhibited at the exhibition because the year of birth is unknown.
He is mentioned in the records of the Showa period, but it is unknown how many works he is drawing, he is drawing a beautiful woman.

This is a hand-drawn drawing of paper made in the middle of the Edo period, and is a work of the style of Nishikawa Sukenobu (1671-1750).Works before Nishiki-e was born.

Please have a look as there are other works that we are dealing with.

Hand paint List