Ukiyo-e: Pictures of the Floating World

from Hector Garcia’s A Geek in Japan…

Literally means “pictures of the floating world.” It is a type of printmaking art that was developed in the Edo Period (1603-1868). Ukiyo-e were prints that were produced by using large carved woodblocks that had been painted upon and then paper pressed.

Today, less than 4 traditional ukiyo-e studios exist in Japan. We were lucky enough to visit one of them and be the very lucky guests of a master carver, a master painter and his apprentice. The following pictures are from that phenomenal experience.