The Floating World

Ukiyo-e, meaning ‘pictures of the floating world’, was a genre of art that flourished in Japan between the 17th and 19th centuries, and which focused on subjects popular amongst the growing urban merchant class, such as courtesans, kabuki actors, erotica and everyday scenes. While there were some specialized Ukiyo-e painters, the majority of the works sold were prints (from woodblocks). Ukiyo-e was hugely influential in developing the West’s perception of Japanese art and also influenced the work of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painters, including Monet, Degas, Van Gogh and Lautrec.