A Study on Ukiyo-e and Its Elimination of Shading Techniques Introduced from the West

• Project/Area Number: 26770066
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Art at large
• Research Institution: Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music
• Principal Investigator: Matsuura Noboru 東京藝術大学, その他の研究科, 非常勤講師 (80640010)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2015)
• Budget Amount: ¥2,080,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥480,000); Fiscal Year 2015: ¥650,000 (Direct Cost: ¥500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥150,000); Fiscal Year 2014: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000)
• Keywords: 浮世絵 / 陰影法

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Through in-depth research on original resources and documents about Ukiyo-e from the middle to latter of the Edo period, this research < A Study on Ukiyo-e and Its Elimination of Shading Techniques Introduced from the West> aimed to prove the fact that painters used shading techniques introduced from the West as well as techniques of observation and notions of shadow originated in Japan. The result of the research found out that these shading techniques in Ukiyo-e were influenced by Megane-e (Eyeglass picture) or Western prints and adopted into real landscape painting of the Edo period since Katsushika Hokusai’s works. Also it has been clarified that shading techniques imported from the West were re-interpreted as a relation between moonlight and silhouette by painters with Utagawa Kuniyoshi as the central figure.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] 写真の概念と書画・浮世絵 (2016)
  • Author(s): 松浦昇
  • Journal Title: LOOP : 映像メディア学 : 東京藝術大学大学院映像研究科紀要 Volume: 6 Pages: 103-125
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] 浮世絵と西洋陰影法の関係について (2016)
  • Author(s): 松浦昇
  • Organizer: 第18回国際浮世絵学会春季大会
  • Place of Presentation: 東京
  • Year and Date: 2016-06-12