Around 1618 -1694 · Birth of ukiyo-e and urban culture of Edo

Explore ukiyo-e pioneer Hishikawa Moronobu, whose beauties, actors, pleasure districts and illustrated books give Edo life a full, elegant and immediately readable line.

Born around 1618 in Hoda in Awa province, now Chiba Prefecture, Hishikawa Moronobu grew up in a family of embroiderers. This proximity to fabrics and patterns probably fueled his attention to kimonos. Installed in Edo during the Kanbun era, he assimilated Tosa and Kanô traditions as well as popular illustration. His first known signed book appeared in 1672. Moronobu then transformed scattered currents into a coherent Hishikawa style, fundamental for ukiyo-e. His first known signed book appeared in 1672. Moronobu then transformed scattered currents into a coherent Hishikawa style, fundamental for ukiyo-e. Books, simple sheets, scrolls and screens represent kabuki actors, beauties, artisans, walkers and pleasure districts. The first prints are often printed in black alone, sumizuri-e, sometimes enhanced by hand; the force then comes from a broad, fluid and rhythmic outline. The British Museum attributes to his work more than a hundred illustrated books, more than fifty erotic books, numerous sheets and a large number of paintings. Beauty turning around, around 1690, became his emblematic image. A young woman interrupts her step and turns her head; hairstyle, comb, flowered kimono and obi record the most recent fashion, while the curve of the body is enough to create movement. Died in Edo in 1694, Moronobu did not invent all the components of ukiyo-e alone, but gave them a lasting shape and an immense audience. The selection "Hishikawa Moronobu" puts particularly with regard to Beauty turning around. His reading favors drawing.

Moronobu holds Edo in one line: the outline of the kimono, a turned neck and a few patterns are enough to convey fashion, movement and desire.