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Surimono.com Virtual Ukiyo-e
Japanese Wood-block Prints
This particular artform flourished in Japan from the 17th. century to the 19th. century .The term ukiyo-e is understood as 'images of the floating world' .The Floating World is a world of pleasure and freedom from the cares of the world, a world of courtesans , tea houses and theatre.
Kabuki theatre was very popular and like today the audience had an insatiable desire for images of their actor heros, Artists such as Kunisada specialised in images of Kabuki actors and produced striking examples as did his pupil Kunichika.Other artists such as Kuniyoshi and his pupil Yoshitoshi famously used the history of ancient Japan and its heros as subject matter for their stunning prints.
The making of a traditional ukiyo-e wood-block print was a collaboration of three disciplines, the designer, the wood-block cutter and the printer. Credit for the completed print generally goes to the designer /artist but the contribution of the other two craftsmen cannot be under-estimated.
Surimono.com was put on the net in 1999 as "a gift to the World" by Alex. Nisbet the owner of Hirografix. Alex. Nisbet has been interested in and has collected Japanese Wood-block Prints for almost 30 years.
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