flying twigs

Following on from the last post on the theme of Japanese art, this is a woodblock print I photographed in the University of the Arts in Taitō City ward in Tokyo. The print is entitled Courtesan and a Handsome Youth, and is by Isoda Koryusai who has an interesting story.

He was a samurai employed in the Tsuchiya clan and became a ronin or leaderless professional swordsman after the death of the leader of the clan.

And then he became a designer and print maker of the Ukiyo-e period when he designed woodblocks of the floating world. Ukiyo-e art or pictures of the floating world, was a way of seeing life as ever-changing, with bittersweet fleeting moments. Nothing was out of bounds – theatres, brothels, tea houses, labourers, travellers, artists, prostitutes, lovers. And always feeling that life was ephemeral and impossible to grasp.

And in that world, Isoda Koryusai brought his history as a professional swordsman. It’s a theme that is explored in literature and film. Oftentimes the story ends with a showdown where the former professional man of action is called back to defend the honour of the innocent. There is nothing to say this happened to Isoda Koryusai but we can wonder how much of his insight as an artist was moulded by his violent background.

We may make this print into a greeting card.