Learn How to Pronounce ukiyo-e
(Listen to the audio above for the stress and intonation)
Meaning and Context
Ukiyo-e, a term translating to "pictures of the floating world," is a definitive genre of Japanese art that flourished from the early Edo period in the 17th century through the late 19th century. This historic art form, primarily produced through intricate woodblock printing techniques, captured the ephemeral pleasures and aesthetic sensibilities of urban merchant-class culture in cities like Edo (modern Tokyo). Renowned for its bold linear designs, masterful use of color, and innovative compositional perspectives, ukiyo-e art features iconic subjects including beautiful women (bijinga), popular kabuki actors (yakusha-e), dynamic historical narratives, and later, breathtaking landscapes by masters like Hokusai and Hiroshige. The movement had a profound influence on Western art in the late 19th century, notably inspiring French Impressionists and Post-Impressionists in a cultural exchange known as Japonisme. Collectors and museums today highly prize original Japanese woodblock prints for their artistic merit and as a vivid window into Edo-period society and aesthetics.
Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings
The standard romanized spelling is ukiyo-e, with a hyphen and a lowercase 'e'. Common variations and errors include omitting the hyphen to form ukiyoe, which is often seen but considered less precise. A frequent typo is ukiyo-e misspelled as ukiyo-e (with a stray extra hyphen) or ukiyoe (run together). The term is also sometimes incorrectly capitalized in its entirety as UKIYO-E or Ukiyo-E, though standard practice is to capitalize only the first letter in a sentence. It is important to note the correct use of the macron in transliteration, as in ukiyo-e, though in common English usage the macron is often omitted. Confusion may also arise with the similar-sounding but distinct term ukiyo, which refers to the "floating world" lifestyle concept itself, not the art (e means "picture").
Example Sentences
The museum's new exhibition features a stunning collection of ukiyo-e, highlighting Hiroshige's famous series The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō.
When studying the impact of Japanese art on European painting, scholars consistently point to the arrival of ukiyo-e prints in Paris as a catalyst for Japonisme.
A well-preserved, early-edition ukiyo-e print by Kitagawa Utamaro can command astronomical prices at auction.
The intricate process of creating ukiyo-e involved a collaborative effort between the artist, the woodblock carver, and the printer.
Many first-time viewers are struck by the flat areas of color and dramatic cropping found in classic ukiyo-e compositions.
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