ukiyo-e engraving
The Parable of the Prodigal Son
For many centuries, the Bible has been an inexhaustible source of inspiration for artists, poets, and writers. Without claiming to be innovative, we will see how the three great artists refracted the same parable in the crystal of their work.
The parable of the prodigal son tells us that the son left home, returned naked and barefoot. The father received him, ordered to kill the fat calf in honor of the return of his son. In the era of religious wars, violent peasant uprisings, Jacquerie and Bashmak, this parable was very relevant and two great contemporaries, Bosch and Durer turned to this story, showing us different facets and reasons for the appearance “Prodigal sons.” The third of the great artists examined here, Rembrandt, was born eighty years after the death of the youngest of them, Dürer, in a more relaxed era and his interpretation of the parable is much calmer than the works of Bosch and, especially, Dürer, saturated with tragedy.
Bosch the Prodigal Son Continue reading
Useful habits for aspiring artists
We all know that acquiring habits is much easier than getting rid of them. This means that acquiring useful habits will not allow you to appear harmful, eliminating the need to abandon them, saving time and effort.
Spend some time securing a comfortable place. Choose a time when you are most pleased to do and when you are not worried. It’s hard to create a picture when you constantly look over your shoulder, every minute distract you on the most ridiculous questions or comment on every action. The result is a conflict, explosive situation. There is nothing good in the lack of lighting, noise and loud sounds. This means that the thoughtful organization of place and time should be the first good habit, so that no one and nothing could interfere with your studies. Continue reading
Pictures of an Elusive World – Ukiyo-e
Identity is a key feature of Japanese ukiyo-e engravings. Having no analogies in the art of other countries of the Far East, this system formed the basis for the formation of not only the culture of Japan itself, but also influenced the historical course and formation of the whole world culture.
For almost two centuries (XVII – XIX centuries), dating back to the Edo era, Ukiyo-e existed, originating in the bowels of urban culture and going a long and interesting way, captured by masters of Japanese engraving creating their paintings at different periods.
Hisikawa Moronobu (1618-1694) is considered the founder of the ukiyo-e engraving. He was the first to create not only book illustrations, but also easel works. By signing each and treating them as true works of art, Moronobu was a huge success. His art, the work of his students and younger contemporaries (Torii Kiyonobu and Kaygetsudo Ando) determined the style of the early engraving of ukiyo-e. The main genres that formed during this period were bidzing and yakusha-e. Continue reading
