Gezichten uit de ukiyo-e 1920

Kitano Tsunetomi produced this print titled "Gezichten uit de ukiyo-e", faces from the floating world, with woodblock printing in Japan. Ukiyo-e developed as a distinct genre during the Edo period, and became deeply intertwined with the era’s social and cultural fabric. The floating world alluded to the fleeting nature of life, and many ukiyo-e prints capture the ephemeral pleasures of the city's entertainment districts. Often these images portray courtesans and geishas. This print references that tradition, but its intimacy sets it apart. The artwork invites reflection on how shifting cultural values shape artistic expression. Tsunetomi, born in the Meiji era, navigated the changing landscape of Japanese art, as Western influences began to permeate artistic circles. Examining the interplay between tradition and modernity in Tsunetomi’s work requires exploring manifestos, exhibition reviews, and the changing role of art schools. Art history, ultimately, thrives on such contextual understanding, revealing how artists engage with and transform the social and institutional forces around them.