Uchiwa-e (2)

In Japan, fans, both uchiwa and folding or ôgi, are used by both men and women, usually in the warm seasons. Those made of bamboo and paper were the cheapest and most affordable and, therefore, used by the working classes. In the Meiji period (1868-1912) the fascination with Japanese objects in the West led to many uchiwa fans printed with Japanese landscapes and themes being exported to Europe. Unlike porcelains, bronzes or lacquers, these objects could be purchased in the stores of European capitals at ridiculously low prices.This elegant uchiwa-e, woodcut for the country of a fan, was designed by the landscape painter Gyokuei in the early 20th century. The drawing of two birds on a branch with flowers and fruits is precisely defined on the delicate blue, gray, red and yellow colors of the print.The name kachô-ga in Japanese refers to all paintings whose subject is natural scenes featuring flowers and birds. Far from being a minor theme, the scenes of flowers and birds correspond to the cultured painting and its origins date back to classical Chinese painting. This theme reappeared with great vigor in the Ukiyo-e school of popular engraving throughout the 19th century, at the same time as there was a great interest in landscape and views of famous places. In the uchiwa-e, engravings destined to print the paper countries of the non-folding fans or uchiwa, the scenes of flowers and birds were also very common. / Bibliography: ALMAZÁN TOMÁS, D.: “Uchiwá-e. Meiji Period (1868-1912), early 20th century. Japan”, in LÓPEZ GUZMÁN, R.; RUIZ GUTIÉRREZ, A.; SORROCHE CUERVA, M.A. (Scientific Coord.): Oriente en Granada (Exhibition Catalogue). Granada, 2008, pp.: 66-67.