Today, I've come to learn about a very interesting school of art, one from the far east, and more specifically, from Japan.
Ukiyo-e, or Everyday, was an artistic school in Japan between the seventeenth and the twenieth centuries. It depicted landscapes and scenes from the daily life of the city, hence the name Ukiyo-e, or Everyday (Or as Wikipedia says, floating world). Many western artists were influenced by this school, such as Vincent Van Gogh and Paul Gauguin.
Here's a print called: The breaking wave of Kanagawa (1831), by Katsushika Hokusai. It is one of the most famous Japanese woodblock prints. A copy today is bought and sold for millions of yen. Under the huge wave, there's a fishing boat, and in the background behind the wave appears mount Fuji. Notice the strong, clear lines and the dark colors used in the painting, all giving extra intensity to the scene.
If you like to know more about Ukiyo-e, Check this link
November, 28, 2006 5:38 PM