Explore the art, history, and enduring beauty of Japanese woodblock prints. From master artists to collecting wisdom, discover everything about ukiyo-e.
He was born a samurai and served the shogun, then left to draw the stars of the pleasure district. The story behind Eishi's portrait of the courtesan Komurasaki.
The giant red lantern you see in every photo of Asakusa today, painted in the snow over 160 years ago. The story behind Hiroshige's view of Sensō-ji temple.
He made his name on warrior prints, but Utagawa Kuniyoshi is loved just as much for his cats. The story of ukiyo-e's great cat artist, and cats in Japanese prints.
One of the most famous kabuki portraits in Japanese art, by an artist who appeared in 1794, made bold prints for ten months, then vanished. Who was Sharaku?
She poured tea and became one of the most famous faces in Edo. The story behind Utamaro's portrait of Naniwaya Okita, and how woodblock prints made everyday people into celebrities.
A whale, a swarm of boats, and a hunt at sea. The story of Hokusai's Whaling off the Gotō Islands, from one of his rarest series, One Thousand Pictures of the Ocean.
Our shop is named after the Golden Boy in this Utamaro print. Meet Kintarō, who grows up to become the warrior Sakata no Kintoki, and Yamauba, the mountain woman who raised him.
A steep red bridge and wisteria in bloom: the story of Hiroshige's Kameido Tenjin Shrine, from his last great series, and how prints like it reached Van Gogh and Monet.
A waterfall that fills the page. The story of Hokusai's Rōben Falls at Ōyama, from his Tour of Waterfalls series, and the cold-water ritual that drew pilgrims to it.
Same picture, very different prices. Here is how to tell an original ukiyo-e print from a later reprint, a reproduction, and a machine-made poster — what each is worth, and what to ask before you buy.
Inside the ten-year apprenticeship that created ukiyo-e's unsung masters. From yamazakura cherry wood to hair-thin line cutting, discover the technical precision that made 'brocade pictures' possible.
A deep dive into the scientific analysis of ukiyo-e pigments—from vermilion's mercuric sulfide to the organic dyes extracted from safflower and sappanwood. Discover what modern spectroscopy reveals about Edo-period color technology.
From handmade washi paper to publisher reputation, discover the technical and market factors that determine ukiyo-e reproduction values. Academic research reveals why some reprints command premiums while others remain affordable.
Discover the art of ukiyo-e, from its origins in Edo-period Japan to the master artists who shaped this influential genre. Learn about traditional techniques, the art of reproduction, and why quality reprints allow collectors to experience these masterpieces as they were originally intended.