Source: National Diet Library "NDL Image Bank"
Bijinga Special Feature: 6 Masterpiece Series
The following is a summary of the background and characteristics of the above six series. See the cultural values of each and their modern application proposals.
Hashiguchi Goyo print collection (Taisho ~ early Showa)
Hashiguchi Goyo (1880–1921) fused Western painting and ukiyo-e to create modern beautiful prints. It contains 12 works that reinterpret the tradition of ukiyo-e with delicate lines and tones. Perfect for POD items and interior prints.
Women's customs are exhausted(Ogata Tsukiko, Meiji)
"Women's Customs" by Ogata Tsukiko (1859–1920) is a series of attractive female figures depicted along with events and daily customs. He is also a master of magazine illustration and has a wealth of scene descriptions. It is suitable for miscellaneous goods and packaging design.
Yushin Nishikawa Ancient Beauty Painting Score (Mid-Edo period, handwritten brush)
This is a collection of hand-painted beautiful paintings by the Kyoto painter Yushin Nishikawa (1671–1750) in the mid-Edo period, depicting the elegant life of a woman who plays the koto and shamisen. The reprint published in Taisho 2 (1913) is also popular today. It is recommended for a luxurious design that incorporates traditional culture.
Mizuno Toshikata's beautiful paintings (Meiji)
A disciple of ukiyo-e artist Yoshitoshi Tsukioka, Toshikata Mizuno (1866–1908) uniquely expressed historical and customary beauty images in his "Thirty-six Masterpieces" and other works. It is characterized by a composition that incorporates Western-style blur. It is a design that looks great against modern Japanese stationery and smartphone backgrounds.
Irugata (Yamamoto Nobune, late Meiji period)
Yamamoto Nobune's "Irugata" series, painted in 1906–1909, is a valuable group of more than 50 works that combine the latest customs with Edo atmosphere. It is a dynamic beauty painting that can be used for social media posts and web materials.
100 beauties of Edo famous places (Utagawa Kunisada, 1857)
"100 Beauties of Edo Famous Places" by Utagawa Kunisada (3rd generation) and his disciple Kunihisa is a co-written series that combines Edo's famous places and 100 beauties. Against the background of famous places, images of women from a wide range of classes, such as courtesans and daimyo princesses, are depicted, and 81 pieces still exist. It is ideal for postcards and tourism promo materials that make use of the local characteristics.
Utilization Ideas
- Posters and printed products: Ideal for art paneling with high-resolution images.
- Digital Materials: Materials that add cultural depth to social media backgrounds and web banners.
- Miscellaneous goods and fashion: T-shirts, scarves, and other designs that express Japanese modernity.
The above six series are a collection of gems of works from different eras and styles of expression, with a common theme of "beauty painting". After viewing the images, please understand the background in the text and refer to the usage ideas. Please incorporate it into your creations and products to vividly convey Japan's sense of beauty!
