Changes

*''Japanese'': 浮世絵 ''(ukiyoe)''

*''Japanese'': 浮世絵 ''(ukiyoe)''

[[Image:神奈川沖浪裏.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Kanagawaoki Namiura by Katsushika Hokusai]]

[[Image:神奈川沖浪裏.jpg|right|300px|thumb|''Kanagawaoki Namiura'' by [[Hokusai|Katsushika Hokusai]]]]

''Ukiyo-e'' is a genre of Japanese [[painting]] and [[woodblock printing|woodblock prints]], comprising a number of closely related styles, which formed one of the core genres of [[Edo period]] popular art. The term literally means "pictures of the [[floating world]]," and ''ukiyo-e'' images generally depict elements of urban commoner culture, especially [[kabuki]] actors, courtesans and other beautiful women, sumo wrestlers, and [[meisho|famous places]] around [[Edo]] and elsewhere.

''Ukiyo-e'' is a genre of Japanese [[painting]] and [[woodblock printing|woodblock prints]], comprising a number of closely related styles, which formed one of the core genres of [[Edo period]] popular art. The term literally means "pictures of the [[floating world]]," and ''ukiyo-e'' images generally depict elements of urban commoner culture, especially [[kabuki]] actors, courtesans and other beautiful women, sumo wrestlers, and [[meisho|famous places]] around [[Edo]] and elsewhere.

==Origins==

==Origins==

[[Image:見返り美人sm.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Mikaeri Bijin by Hishikawa Moronobu]]

[[Image:見返り美人sm.jpg|right|180px|thumb|''Mikaeri [[Bijinga|Bijin]]'' by [[Hishikawa Moronobu]]]]

''Ukiyo-e'' has its origins in illustrated woodblock printed books, and in so-called "[[genre painting]]s" of urban life. These forms evolved over the course of the 17th century in parallel with other elements of urban culture such as [[kabuki]], the courtesan districts, and various forms of humorous literature. Many of these paintings were by members of the [[Tosa school]] and [[Kano school|Kanô school]] who had turned away from the formalized forms of their official schools to experiment in new forms. [[Iwasa Matabei]] (1578-1650) was one of the foremost producers of "genre paintings" at this time, many of his works depicting samurai with courtesans, kabuki dances, and the like.

''Ukiyo-e'' has its origins in illustrated woodblock printed books, and in so-called "[[genre painting]]s" of urban life. These forms evolved over the course of the 17th century in parallel with other elements of urban culture such as [[kabuki]], the courtesan districts, and various forms of humorous literature. Many of these paintings were by members of the [[Tosa school]] and [[Kano school|Kanô school]] who had turned away from the formalized forms of their official schools to experiment in new forms. [[Iwasa Matabei]] (1578-1650) was one of the foremost producers of "genre paintings" at this time, many of his works depicting samurai with courtesans, kabuki dances, and the like.