Essays in Idleness – Modern Chapter “The Evolution of Ukiyo-e”
As I sit here with my inkstone, letting my brush flow freely with whatever thoughts pass through my mind, how curious it all seems.
Recently, I attempted to revive the traditional form of ukiyo-e through modern techniques. I began with stained glass-style ukiyo-e with Art Nouveau influences, then returned to the beauty of Kitagawa Utamaro’s bijin-ga from the Edo period, and finally arrived at creating hyper-realistic oiran courtesans as seen through contemporary eyes.
Each path is profound, and mastering any one of them requires countless trials and errors. Yet, with each attempt, I discovered new possibilities of the brush called Midjourney, experiencing the immeasurable joy of expanding my range of expression.
Even now, this mysterious brush known as Midjourney has evolved into a new form called V7α. While leaving the details for another occasion, let us now be captivated by the “oiran” before our eyes.
This portrait is not merely a shallow attempt at depicting a Japanese person in kimono. It draws from the deep currents of ukiyo-e history, embodying the spirit infused in Utamaro’s bijin-ga and carrying it forward into the present day. From the texture of the white powder on the skin, the shade of red on the lips, the luster of black hair, to the sparkle of golden hairpins—all serve as bridges connecting the past to the present.
Indeed, while the possibilities of expression expand with technological advancement, the soul to be imbued within remains unchanged across time. Perhaps expressing the spirit of ancient ukiyo-e artists through modern techniques is what should be called the new “Way of Ukiyo-e.”