'The 4 Elegant Pastimes, The Koto' by Eizan

Ukiyo-e (‘pictures of the floating world’) first appeared in 17th century Edo (present-day Tokyo) when a middle-class culture emerged amidst the expansion of the new Japanese capital.

These woodblock prints were pictures produced by craftsmen from woodcuts whose designs were originally painted by artists. The majority of ukiyo-e refer to themes associated with the leisure activities of Edo’s bourgeoisie; namely everyday scenes, landscapes and actors in kabuki (theatre) roles, as well as geishas and women generally, known as bijin-ga (‘pictures of beautiful women’).

Read more about Japanese Prints in this collection