Japanese Colour-Prints and Their Designers

"Japanese Colour-Prints and Their Designers" by Frederick W. Gookin is a detailed presentation of the Ukiyoé art movement, given as a lecture to the Japan Society of New York in 1911 and then published in the early 1900s. It explores how different artists shaped Japanese color prints through themes taken from everyday life in Japan’s Edo era. Gookin gives us a look into the cultural and social conditions that inspired these artworks, establishing them as an important part of Japan’s artistic history. The book traces the journey of Japanese color-printing from the 1600s to its height in the 1700s, spotlighting key figures, such as Moronobu, Harunobu, and Hiroshige. Gookin describes the technical steps used in making the prints, from simple black outlines to complex multicolored designs and looks at the common themes of daily life, theater, and landscapes. His writing acts as both a historical record and an analysis of artistic ideas, stressing the connection between popular art and social structure, while also addressing how Ukiyoé was not fully appreciated by Japan's upper classes at the time. Overall, Gookin's work delivers an interesting view of how these prints captured the passing moments of life in Japan and have found lasting appreciation in the art world.