"Discovering Osaka Woodblock Prints"
In October we had a unique opportunity to take a glimpse at a piece of Osaka’s history through woodblock (ukiyo-e) prints. Osaka print dealer Peter Ujlaki gave us fascinating insight into the finer points of the prints, as well as the cultural environment that allowed them to flourish.
During the Edo period, the merchant class was strictly regulated as to what they could do with their wealth. One approved outlet for their time and money was Kabuki, and Osaka woodblock prints reflect their passion for this traditional art. Unlike the Edo prints, which depicted a wide variety of scenes, the vast majority of Osaka prints portrayed Kabuki actors.
Artists generally created the prints after a performance to show the actors in key scenes. Each artist might have a different opinion of what should be captured, and as a result, a number of prints were usually created for each performance. These were then sold to fans and patrons, who collected posters of their favorite actors. For the zealous fan, some prints could even be cut and pasted onto mirrors, fans or other personal items to show one’s loyalty. Others could be folded into mini-books that were often carried about in one’s kimono sleeve – a precursor to Baseball, Pokemon, or today’s Mushiking trading cards?!
It is impossible to convey all we learned in a short summary, but please have a look at Peter’s excellent website. You’ll be pleased to further your knowledge of this little-known aspect of Osaka’s modern culture.
