A glimpse into the Past

The Pierce College Art Gallery recently showcased Japanese woodblock prints that were gifted to the school. Previously an unseen collection found in a garage, the first public viewing opened March 20, on the Art Hill near Parking Lot 6. The Japanese art of Ukiyo-e was developed in the city of Edo (now Tokyo) during the Edo Period (1615-1868). This time refers to a relatively peaceful 250 years, during which the Tokugawa shoguns ruled Japan and made Edo the shogunal seat of power. The merchant class turned to art and culture as an arena at which they could participate on an equal basis with the elite upper classes. The early prints were spare and monowchromatic, printed in black ink only, some with minimal hand-coloring. Later works were built up in layers of printed color. Some prints featured embossed areas created by the interplay of pressure, carving, and paper texture. Ukiyo-e attests to the unrivaled craftsmanship, technical excellence, and spectacular results that artists were able to achieve in woodblock printing.