Kaigetsudo Ando
Encyclopedia
Kaigetsudō Ando(c. 1671-1743), also known as Ando Yasunori, was a Japanese painter, and the founder of the Kaigetsudō school
of ukiyo-e
. Though very influential and prolific, it is quite probable that many of the works attributed to him were actually painted by his disciples. He is something of a rarity among major ukiyo-e artists, in that he was only ever a painter, and never produced woodblock prints
.
Ando lived in the Suwa-chō district of Asakusa
, in Edo
, very near the Sensō-ji
, and on a major road which led to the Yoshiwara
, roughly a mile north of the city. Principally active from 1700-1714, it has been surmised by some scholars that his early training may have been in ema
, wooden votive tablets sold at Shinto shrines. One of the distinctive elements of his style is the sense of emptiness around his figures, an element which fits well with the medium of the ema; this theory is supported by the idea of his location on the main road, where a great number of pilgrims and travelers would have passed daily.
Some scholars dismiss this theory, but it is nevertheless evident that Ando was closely connected to the trends of popular culture, art, and literature at the time. His style shows influences of the father of ukiyo-e painting, Hishikawa Moronobu
, and his disciples, as well as influences from book illustrators such as Yoshida Hanbei
.
Ando's particular focus was on the bijinga
(images of beautiful women), and in his time he and his studio nearly monopolized the production of images of the courtesans of the Yoshiwara, Edo's pleasure district. His style is especially distinguished by the elaborate, and often briilliantly colorful, patterns on the courtesan's kimono
. These were truly images of the latest fashions, or perhaps of the artist's own fashion ideas, just as much as they were images of the women. It has also been said that his women had an austerity and aloofness that placed them above pure representations of sexuality, the Edo period equivalent of "pin-ups".
As the founder of a school, it should come as no surprise that his style was fresh, new and innovative, and quite distinctive. This style would be continued by his direct disciples (some of whom were his sons or other direct relations), often so closely that paintings done by them have come to be misattributed to Ando.
Kaigetsudō Ando's career came to an end in 1714, with the so-called "Ejima-Ikushima affair
." It is not entirely clear how he was involved in this scandal which revolved around a high ranking court lady and a kabuki
actor (who held a very low status in society, along with all actors and entertainers). All those involved were banished from Edo.
Kaigetsudo school
The Kaigetsudō school was a school of ukiyo-e painting and printmaking founded in Edo around 1700-1714. It is often said that the various Kaigetsudō artists' styles are so similar, many scholars find it nearly impossible to differentiate them; thus, many Kaigetsudō paintings are attributed to the...
of ukiyo-e
Ukiyo-e
' is a genre of Japanese woodblock prints and paintings produced between the 17th and the 20th centuries, featuring motifs of landscapes, tales from history, the theatre, and pleasure quarters...
. Though very influential and prolific, it is quite probable that many of the works attributed to him were actually painted by his disciples. He is something of a rarity among major ukiyo-e artists, in that he was only ever a painter, and never produced woodblock prints
Woodblock printing in Japan
Woodblock printing in Japan is a technique best known for its use in the ukiyo-e artistic genre; however, it was also used very widely for printing books in the same period. Woodblock printing had been used in China for centuries to print books, long before the advent of movable type, but was only...
.
Ando lived in the Suwa-chō district of Asakusa
Asakusa
is a district in Taitō, Tokyo, Japan, most famous for the Sensō-ji, a Buddhist temple dedicated to the bodhisattva Kannon. There are several other temples in Asakusa, as well as various festivals.- History :...
, in Edo
Edo
, also romanized as Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of the Japanese capital Tokyo, and was the seat of power for the Tokugawa shogunate which ruled Japan from 1603 to 1868...
, very near the Sensō-ji
Senso-ji
is an ancient Buddhist temple located in Asakusa, Taitō, Tokyo. It is Tokyo's oldest temple, and one of its most significant. Formerly associated with the Tendai sect, it became independent after World War II. Adjacent to the temple is a Shinto shrine, the Asakusa Shrine.- History :The temple is...
, and on a major road which led to the Yoshiwara
Yoshiwara
Yoshiwara was a famous Akasen district in Edo, present-day Tōkyō, Japan.In the early 17th century, there was widespread male and female prostitution throughout the cities of Kyoto, Edo, and Osaka. To counter this, an order of Tokugawa Hidetada of the Tokugawa shogunate restricted prostitution to...
, roughly a mile north of the city. Principally active from 1700-1714, it has been surmised by some scholars that his early training may have been in ema
Ema (Shinto)
are small wooden plaques on which Shinto worshippers write their prayers or wishes. The ema are then left hanging up at the shrine, where the kami receive them. They bear various pictures, often of animals or other Shinto imagery, and many have the word gan'i , meaning "wish", written along the side...
, wooden votive tablets sold at Shinto shrines. One of the distinctive elements of his style is the sense of emptiness around his figures, an element which fits well with the medium of the ema; this theory is supported by the idea of his location on the main road, where a great number of pilgrims and travelers would have passed daily.
Some scholars dismiss this theory, but it is nevertheless evident that Ando was closely connected to the trends of popular culture, art, and literature at the time. His style shows influences of the father of ukiyo-e painting, Hishikawa Moronobu
Hishikawa Moronobu
was a Japanese painter and printmaker known for his advancement of the ukiyo-e woodcut style starting in the 1670s.-Early life and training:Moronobu was the son of a well-respected dyer and a gold and silver-thread embroiderer in the village of Hodamura, Awa Province, near Edo Bay. After moving to...
, and his disciples, as well as influences from book illustrators such as Yoshida Hanbei
Yoshida Hanbei
Yoshida Hanbei was a late 17th century Japanese illustrator in the ukiyo-e style, the leading illustrator in Kyoto and Osaka around 1664-1689. Unlike many more famous ukiyo-e artists, who worked primarily on individual woodblock prints and paintings, Hanbei worked primarily, if not exclusively, in...
.
Ando's particular focus was on the bijinga
Bijinga
Bijinga , is a generic term for pictures of beautiful women in Japanese art, especially in woodblock printing of the ukiyo-e genre, which predate photography...
(images of beautiful women), and in his time he and his studio nearly monopolized the production of images of the courtesans of the Yoshiwara, Edo's pleasure district. His style is especially distinguished by the elaborate, and often briilliantly colorful, patterns on the courtesan's kimono
Kimono
The is a Japanese traditional garment worn by men, women and children. The word "kimono", which literally means a "thing to wear" , has come to denote these full-length robes...
. These were truly images of the latest fashions, or perhaps of the artist's own fashion ideas, just as much as they were images of the women. It has also been said that his women had an austerity and aloofness that placed them above pure representations of sexuality, the Edo period equivalent of "pin-ups".
As the founder of a school, it should come as no surprise that his style was fresh, new and innovative, and quite distinctive. This style would be continued by his direct disciples (some of whom were his sons or other direct relations), often so closely that paintings done by them have come to be misattributed to Ando.
Kaigetsudō Ando's career came to an end in 1714, with the so-called "Ejima-Ikushima affair
Ejima-Ikushima affair
The was the most significant scandal in the Ōoku, the shogun's harem, during the Edo period of the history of Japan.On the twelfth day of the first month of the fourth year of the Shōtoku era , Ejima, a high-ranking lady in the Ōoku, visited the grave of the late shogun Tokugawa Ienobu in the name...
." It is not entirely clear how he was involved in this scandal which revolved around a high ranking court lady and a kabuki
Kabuki
is classical Japanese dance-drama. Kabuki theatre is known for the stylization of its drama and for the elaborate make-up worn by some of its performers.The individual kanji characters, from left to right, mean sing , dance , and skill...
actor (who held a very low status in society, along with all actors and entertainers). All those involved were banished from Edo.