History Development
Ukiyo-e originated in the Edo region (Tokyo) during a time when Japanese political and military power was in the hands of the shoguns.
In 1853, an American commander named Perry came to Japan to negotiate with the Japanese government on behalf of the USA. At the time of Perry’s arrival, Ukiyo-e characteristics was a popular contemporary art form, and many prints were on sale on the streets of Edo. Western visitors carried Ukiyo-e prints back to their homeland, thus exposing Japan’s exotic art to the rest of the world.
Collecting Ukiyo-e Art
How many times do you visit an art museum and say to yourself, “I wish I could own that picture?” We all think that art investment is the preserve of the super-rich, that Sotheby and Christie are for other people, not ourselves. Well, that’s not actually true. Obviously, an Andy Warhol or a Van Gogh will stretch most pockets, but there is great art out there, rich in history, beautiful to look at, and best of all because the art of the past is a finite resource, an investment that will hold its value.
For me, the woodblock prints of nineteenth-century Japan fit the bill for premium low-cost investment just perfectly. I run an online gallery that exclusively sells Japanese prints of this period or ukiyo-e history as it is called.
First a little bit about the work. For those who think they are unfamiliar with Japanese prints, I’m sure that you will have seen the great wave by Hokusai crashing across drinks coasters or greetings cards, or else the red sides of Mount Fuji on a fridge magnet or poster somewhere. This type of art is actually more visible than you might think. Right now, there are major ukiyo-e exhibitions at national galleries in London, Boston, Oxford, and Brooklyn to name just a few.