The 1672 publication One Hundred Warrior Poets provides the earliest verifiable date for the illustrative work of Hishikawa Moronobu. Operating during a period of shifting artistic conventions in Japan, he synthesized diverse existing aesthetic styles to establish a mature foundation for the ukiyo-e genre of woodblock prints and paintings throughout the late 17th century.
Early Development and Training
Born in 1618 in the town of Hota at the end of Edo Bay, Moronobu was the son of an embroiderer who crafted textiles for temples and wealthy clients. His initial artistic output involved creating designs for this embroidery. During the 1660s, he relocated to Edo, applying the technical skills acquired from his father to the study of Kanō and Tosa-style painting. He further refined his technique under the mentorship of the Kanbun Master.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Ascent in the Ukiyo-e Movement
By the mid-1670s, Moronobu had become the preeminent figure in ukiyo-e printmaking. He produced between 100 and 150 sets of illustrations, including approximately 20 works of an erotic nature. His influence involved consolidating disparate art styles to create a cohesive and robust artistic language. While he frequently collaborated on printed books, his career was also marked by an ability to adapt Kyoto-based subjects and images, refining them with his own compositions. His subject matter often focused on the daily lives of women, a theme he explored extensively.
Notable Publications and Legacy
In 1685, he published Kokon Bushidō ezukushi, a collection featuring heroic tales of samurai for a youthful audience, which demonstrated the reach of his work among the general population. He also contributed illustrations to the volume Hyankunin isshu zōsanshō and the publication The Pictorial Survey, drafted by Ochikochi Dōin, which featured travelers and military processions. Today, his work, including the well-known piece Beauty Looking Back, resides in museum collections globally, including the Library of Congress.
Fast facts
- Born: 1618, Hota, Japan
- Died: 25 July 1694, Edo, Japan
- Primary Field: Ukiyo-e
- Movement: Hishikawa school
- Early Pseudonym: Kichibei
- Later Pseudonym: Yūchiku
- Notable Work: Beauty Looking Back
Questions readers ask
What subjects did Moronobu feature in his prints?
His prints depicted women in their daily routines, samurai legends, and travelers of various social stations.
Is all the work attributed to Moronobu actually his?
Attribution is complex; for instance, scholar Kiyoshi Shibui determined in 1926 that certain designs previously credited to Moronobu were the work of Sugumura Jihei.
Achievements
- Notable work: Beauty Looking Back
- Movement: Hishikawa school
