Background Information
Hishikawa Moronobu (who also went by the name Kichibē) was known as the first great master of ukiyo-e. He was born in 1618 in Yasuda, Japan to his mother (a respected dyer) and his father (a gold and silver-thread embroiderer) and died in 1694 in Edo. Hishikawa lived during the golden era of Edo, the Genroku period, therefore providing him with endless inspiration for his artwork. As a child, Hishikawa spent most of his time learning his father's embroidery and later went on to study Tosa and Kanō-style painting. After spending years perfecting many diverse forms of art, Hishikawa finally decided to begin his study of ukiyo-e accompanied by his mentor, the Kambun Master. Little did he know this form of his artwork would later be considered some of the most famous Japanese historical artwork to ever be created.
Artistic Career and Success
The beginning of Hishikawa’s artistic career began when he became an illustrator of story books during the middle of the 17th century when he moved to Edo. He would later successfully develop a technique that allowed the mass reproduction of paintings, making them accessible to almost everyone. His artwork primarily depicted the customs and manners of the Edo people, more specifically courtesans and Kabuki theatre actors. A large portion of his work is known as shun-ga (pornographic images). Hishikawa’s style included using powerful brushstrokes and solid, dynamic figures in many of his prints. Hishikawa began to illustrate story books using wood-block prints and also became a well-known painter. During the height of his career he received many contract orders for his unique paintings by making near-copies as woodblock prints.
Famous Works
Hishikawa Moronobu (who also went by the name Kichibē) was known as the first great master of ukiyo-e. He was born in 1618 in Yasuda, Japan to his mother (a respected dyer) and his father (a gold and silver-thread embroiderer) and died in 1694 in Edo. Hishikawa lived during the golden era of Edo, the Genroku period, therefore providing him with endless inspiration for his artwork. As a child, Hishikawa spent most of his time learning his father's embroidery and later went on to study Tosa and Kanō-style painting. After spending years perfecting many diverse forms of art, Hishikawa finally decided to begin his study of ukiyo-e accompanied by his mentor, the Kambun Master. Little did he know this form of his artwork would later be considered some of the most famous Japanese historical artwork to ever be created.
Artistic Career and Success
The beginning of Hishikawa’s artistic career began when he became an illustrator of story books during the middle of the 17th century when he moved to Edo. He would later successfully develop a technique that allowed the mass reproduction of paintings, making them accessible to almost everyone. His artwork primarily depicted the customs and manners of the Edo people, more specifically courtesans and Kabuki theatre actors. A large portion of his work is known as shun-ga (pornographic images). Hishikawa’s style included using powerful brushstrokes and solid, dynamic figures in many of his prints. Hishikawa began to illustrate story books using wood-block prints and also became a well-known painter. During the height of his career he received many contract orders for his unique paintings by making near-copies as woodblock prints.
Famous Works