Hishikawa Moronobu · 1618–1694
Hishikawa Moronobu
Hishikawa Moronobu was an Edo-period painter who established ukiyo-e and is called the founder of ukiyo-e. Born into a family of embroiderers in Awa Province, he worked in Edo on illustrations for illustrated books, picture books, and genre paintings.
Hishikawa Moronobu is said to have been born around 1618 (Genna 4) in Hota Hongo, Awa Province (now Kyonan, Chiba Prefecture), into a family of embroiderers. His birth year is also given as 1630 or 1631 (Kan'ei 7 or 8). During the Manji era after the Great Fire of Meireki, he traveled by sea to Edo and studied the techniques of the Kano, Tosa, and Hasegawa schools.
At first he drew illustrations for printed books without signing them, and in the Buke Hyakunin Isshu, published in 1672 (Kanbun 12), he put his name to his work as a painter. He is said to have raised ukiyo-e prints, until then merely illustrations in illustrated books, into independent pictures worthy of appreciation.
From the middle of the Enpo era he showed his individuality in picture books and genre paintings on subjects such as Yoshiwara, kabuki, and famous places, and produced many picture books. He died in 1694 (Genroku 7). Screen paintings such as Kabuki Screen (right screen) also survive.
