Movement · 1680–1900

Ukiyo-e

Woodblock prints built from flat, layered color. Imported Prussian blue transforms the landscapes of Hokusai and Hiroshige from the 1830s.

Across 29 works, the colors are mostly brown (43%), gray (14%) and white (14%). On average the canvases are light, moderately saturated and warm. Signature colors, used far more here than across the collection: pale sand, pale muted golden cream, ivory, light muted aqua and parchment.

Color print

The swatches covering most of these canvases, averaged over every work, dark to light.

• MG 180 pale sand 7.9% of canvas
• MG 171 bone 6.9% of canvas
• MG 202 pale muted golden cream 5.2% of canvas
• MG 172 oatmeal 4.7% of canvas
• MG 181 light sand 4.7% of canvas
• MG 200 ivory 4.6% of canvas
• MG 201 parchment 4.4% of canvas
• MG 218 graphite 4.2% of canvas
• MG 175 stone 3.4% of canvas
• MG 174 warm grey 3.4% of canvas
• MG 173 putty 3.3% of canvas
• MG 176 taupe 3.2% of canvas
• MG 217 iron 2.8% of canvas
• MG 222 charcoal 2.6% of canvas
• MG 163 pale tan 2.4% of canvas
• MG 080 light muted aqua 2.2% of canvas

Measurements

Lightness

0.64

Contrast

0.58

Vividness

0.043

Warmth

+0.60

Complexity

205 cells

Hue range

0.49

Focus

0.04

Composition

Averaged over 29 works: 50% of the visual weight in the right half, 53% in the lower half; symmetry 0.26; 21% calm space; half of the detail in 30% of the canvas. Measured from each image, not a rule the painters followed.

Artists

• Tōshūsai Sharaku ?–1801
• Suzuki Harunobu 1724–1770
• Kitagawa Utamaro 1753–1806
• Hokusai 1760–1849
• Hiroshige 1797–1858
• Utagawa Kuniyoshi 1798–1861

Works

• Plum Blossoms by a Streem (February), 18th century
• By the Sea, 1760s
• Whispering, 1767
• Fujin Tomari-kyaku no Zu, c. 1794
• Ichikawa Ebizo as Takemura Sadanoshin, 1794
• Ichikawa Omezō I in the Role of Yakko Ippei from the Play "Koinyōbō somewake tazuna", 1794
• Kabuki Actor Ōtani Oniji III as Yakko Edobei in the Play The Colored Reins of a Loving Wife (Koi nyōbō somewake tazuna), 1794
• Three Beauties of the Present Day, 1790s
• Tsuitate no Danjo, 1797
• Fukagawa no Yuki, 1800–1809
• Pilgrims at the Rōben waterfall, Ōyama, 1819
• Fuchu, 1831
• Fujimigahara in Owari Province, 1831
• Kajikazawa in Kai province, 1831
• Lake Suwa in Shinano province, 1831
• Sazai hall - Temple of Five Hundred Rakan, 1831
• Under the Mannen Bridge at Fukagawa, 1831
• Fine Wind, Clear Morning, 1830s
• The Great Wave off Kanagawa, 1830s
• Takiyasha the Witch and the Skeleton Spectre, 1844
• Onoe Kikugorō ichidai banashi Gama, 1847
• Mongaku Shonin under the waterfall of Nachi, encouraged by Fudo Myoo and his acolytes Kongara and Seitaka, 1851
• Famous Views of the 60-odd Provinces, 1853
• Nihonbashi: Clearing after Snow, 1856
• Plum Park in Kameido, 1857
• Shichūhan'ei tanabata matsuri, 1857
• Sudden Shower over Shin-Ōhashi Bridge and Atake, 1857
• Suidōbashi surugadai, 1857
• Fireworks at Ryogoku, 1858