KAB Event - Ukiyo-e of the Kamigata Area:
 The Sophisticated Style and Technique of Osaka- and Kyoto-based Ukiyo-e Artists

Ukiyo-e of the Kamigata Area:
 The Sophisticated Style and Technique of Osaka- and Kyoto-based Ukiyo-e Artists

Osaka Museum of History

This event has ended.

In general, the term ukiyo-e conjures up images of renowned Edo-based artists such as Katsushika Hokusai, Utagawa Hiroshige, and Toshusai Sharaku, whose works are known as Edo-e. However, ukiyo-e works were also produced in Osaka and Kyoto, known collectively as the Kamigata area, which were called Kamigata-e and enjoyed great popularity among the public.

The history of Kamigata-e dates back to the end of the 18th century in Osaka and Kyoto. Kabuki actors are the main subject of Kamigata-e works rather than beautiful women. Unlike Edo-e works that portray actors in an idealized fashion, Kamigata-e works are characterized by more realistic depictions. Some Kamigata-e works include scenes in bustling entertainment districts and famous sightseeing spots, and reveal a highly sophisticated aesthetic sense unique to Kamigata artists.

Though Kamigata-e is not well known in Japan, ukiyo-e prints produced in Osaka are called “Osaka Prints” and have garnered high praise overseas for their artistic excellence. Recently, remarkable progress has been made in worldwide research on Kamigata-e. Based on the results of such research, the forthcoming exhibition will explore the world of Kamigata-e in its entirety for the first time in approximately 40 years, through 212 exhibits from domestic collections, of which 15 have never been shown to the public.

Media

• Prints

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