1. UKIYO-E Pictures of THE FLOATING WORLD
Ukiyo-e translates as “pictures of the floating world”. These were paintings and woodcuts produced in Tokyo (at that time called Edo) between the 17th and 20th centuries. Often the subject matter was the pleasurable things in life not the mundane, boring things that happened everyday. For example: you would see scenes and activities from the entertainment world, like actors, wrestlers, people eating and drinking and having a good time. Later on subject matter also included landscapes. This culture saw beauty in nature such as a butterfly, wind in the trees, petals falling from a tree, these things were not seen as mundane or boring. In fact, Ukiyo-e, meaning floating world, is in reference to a leaf floating down a steam and the beauty of that picture.

2. Hokusia, The Great Wave of Kanazawa from the series “36 views of Mt Fuji” 1826-33
Can you find Mt. Fuji?
What else do you see in the picture?
What are the people doing in the picture?

3. Hokusai “100 Famous Views of Mt Fugi” 1826-1833
Often Mt Fuji became part of the ukiyo-e subject matter. The mountain represents abundance to the people of Japan. Mt Fuji has inspired many stories and fables.
What is happening in this picture? (fishing)

4. Ando Hiroshige, number 72 of “100 Famous Views of Edo” “The Benten Shrine and the Ferry at Haneda” 1853
This series of a “Hundred Famous Views of Edo” was inspired by the artist’s travels. Hiroshige uses unusual vantage points.
What do you see in the print?
How is it different from the other prints you’ve seen?

5. Ando Hiroshige, The Urami Waterfall 1853
Hiroshige is inspired by the natural world and the things he sees around him everyday.
Is the color flat or does it have dimension? (Have the kids raise their hands in a vote.)
The color is pretty flat. It isn’t like looking at a Rembrandt or other more realistic-type paintings.

6. Ando Hiroshige I number 30 of 60 “Fishing Boats at Wakasa” from “Famous Views of the 60-odd Provinces” also inspired by Ando’s travels.
What is happening in this print?
How many boats do you see?
What is the time of day?

7. Ado Hiroshige, 90 of 100 Views of Edo “Night View of Saruwakacho” 1853-1856
Ukiyo-e prints and paintings were accessible to the “common” people. The prints weren’t very expensive so people could easily afford to buy them.
What makes these prints look a little like cartoons? (black outlines and flat color)
What are the people doing?

8. “Cranes Over Moon” - Keiichi Nishimura
What patterns do you see in this painting?
What is the overall color?
Is the color flat like the last print?

9. A Carp Leaping in a Pool – Katsushika Taito
So how are all of these prints related? (subject matter)
What kinds of subject matter have we seen? (landscape, people having fun, nature, animals)
What kinds of spectacular things do you see everyday? (trees, flowers, birds, weather,…)