107-451 The Floating World: Japanese Prints

Admission to the postgraduate diploma or fourth-year honours in art history.

The subject examines the evolution of the Japanese woodblock print from the 17th century until the present. The development of this unique art form will be discussed in relation to the cultural and historical background of the Edo period through to the revival of the woodblock print medium in the 20th century and will focus on the interplay between technique, subject matter and artistic expression. The broader significance of this medium will be examined in the context of Japonisme and its enduring influence on contemporary Japanese and international art. Students will be given the chance to examine original artworks in Melbourne private and public collections. Matters considered include the development of an urban class and genre painting; the monochrome print and the early masters; the woodblock print medium and the colour print; the major subjects of Ukiyo-e which include portraits of actors and women, erotica, warriors and landscape; and the 20th century revival of the woodblock print and its broader influence on international art. The artists on whom most attention will be focused are Moronobu, Harunobu, Sharaku, Utamaro, Kiyonaga, Hokusai, Hiroshige, Kuniyoshi and Yoshitoshi. On completion of the subject students should have developed an understanding and appreciation of the history of the Japanese woodblock print, the major artists and subject matter. The course will equip students with the ability to identify the artists, an understanding of the way in which subject matter and expression reflected popular taste and an awareness of the inventive compositional techniques that were to have such a profound influence on the direction of Western art.

Written work totalling 5000 words.

A subject reader will be available.