In the printmaking world Japanese woodcutters are seen as role models of simplicity with a combination of intricacy. The Japanese invented what is called Key block printing. This means that every different color you would see on a print would be a different block. They perfected the art form of layering and creating depth through different colors and blocks. Below are examples of two different Japanese masters.
Katsushika Hokusai was most known as an ukiyo-e artist. Ukiyo-e means, “pictures of the floating world.” Hokusai produced about thirty five thousand works in his lifetime. He apprenticed under a woodblock engraver and then began painting and drawing. His work included everything from simple shells to full blow illustrations for novels. He produced large mount of work within his lifetime dipping his toes into a lot of different markets. (You can find examples of his works below.)
Ando Hiroshige was another Japanese artist. He was a Japanese woodcut master. His focus was on capturing nature and relating it back to ordinary people. His work influenced a lot of European impressionist. Hiroshige died in 1858 due to a Cholera epidemic. (You can find examples of his work below.)
Hokusai and Hiroshige were rivals. Although they were rivals you can see within their work that they focused on similar subject matters. They both managed to capture everyday moments and make them look tremendously beautiful. They also managed to capture some of Japan’s most iconic environments and capsulate the essence and mood of the space. Hokusai was able to create a large amount of work in his lifetime and although Hiroshige did not live as long as Hokusai, he produced an equivalent quality of work as Hokusai. Both of their works are amazing one can only wonder what they would have produced if they were not rivals and would collaborate.
Daisy's Look into Graphic Art History 