Humanities Homework Help

Shin hanga (‘new prints’) was an art movement in early 20th-century Japan, during the Taish? and Sh?wa periods, that revitalized traditional ukiyo-e art rooted in the Edo and Meiji periods (17th–19th century). The movement flourished from around 1915 to 1942, though it resumed briefly from 1946 through the 1950s. Inspired by European Impressionism, the artists incorporated Western elements such as the effects of light and the expression of individual moods, but focused on strictly traditional themes of landscapes (fukeiga), famous places (meish?), beautiful women (bijinga), kabuki actors (yakusha-e), and birds and flowers (kach?ga). 

In this essay, examine shin ganga bijin prints and how they are about preserving varying types of “traditional culture” through the bodies and fashions of women. Some may also be about safe forms of eroticism. These interpretations assume male viewership. But what about female viewers? For them, are they like the cover of women’s style and lifestyle magazines (Vogue, Cosmopolitan) in that they provide models for looks and for ‘how to be’? Examine the different ways men and women would have looked at shin hanga bijinga prints. You can reference other prints during this era and how they affect society such as works from Utamaro, Yoshida, Hashiguchi Goyo, basically early 20th century artists. Double-spaced, using 12-point Times font, and one-inch margins. Illustrations, notes and bibliography should be included at the end of the paper‚ they do not count in the paper length. Research may be necessary.