Vincent Van Gogh was addicted to Ukiyo-e woodblock prints from Japan. Ukiyo-e were affordable prints that were popular in Japan and later exported to Europe. Van Gogh drew copies of several famous Ukiyo-e prints by Japanese artists like Hiroshige and Eisen Keisai. He also included Ukiyo-e prints in the backgrounds of some of his own portraits, showing his admiration for Japanese art.

1. Ukiyo-e &Van Gogh
1000 Speakers Conference in English
Noriko Nagura, May, 2015

2. What’s Ukiyo-e?
- Wood-block printing
- Popular among commoners in Edo period
- Mass-communication tool
- Affordable (¥100-¥400/print) *1
*1 When converted into today’s monetary value.

3. Ukiyo-e Exported Abroad
- Used to wrap up high-end pottery
- World Expo in Europe in 19th century

4. VincentVan Gogh (1853-1890)
Dutch Impressionist Painter

5. Gogh was Addicted to Ukiyoe
Gogh drew replicas of several Ukiyoes.
Let’s take a look at them!

6. Mansion with Plum in Kameido
(by Hiroshige)
Copy by Gogh

7. Atake Bridge in Evening Shower
(by Hiroshige)
Copy by Gogh

8. Front Page of Magazine “Paris Illustre”
(Issue of May in 1886)
Ukiyoe by Eisen KeisaiFor some reason, it‘s flipped around!

9. Oiran in Dragon Cloud Kimono (By Eisen Keisai)
Copy by Gogh

10. Portrait of Pere Tanguy (Summer, 1887)
with several Ukiyoes in the background
By Hiroshige
By Hiroshige
By Eisen
Keisai
By Kunisada Utagawa
By Hiroshige

11. Portrait of Pere Tanguy (Winter, 1887)
with several Ukiyoes in the background
By Hiroshige

12. Portrait of Pere Tanguy (Summer, 1887)
Gogh’s best friend
Geisha girl
Mt. Fuji
Cherry tree
 Japan’s symbols!!

13. Thank you!