The Tokugawa period witnessed the rise of a vibrant artisan-and-merchant (chonin) urban culture around Japan, along with a rise in chonin arts. Again, this was made possible by the ending of the sengoku jidai warring period. Highly famous Japanese artists, like Hokusai and Hiroshige originated from this social group.

'The Great Wave' one of the '36 Views of Mt Fuji'. Katsushika Hokusai. 

The style used in chonin art is uniquely different from the styles in samurai art. The style was very simplified and limited in design. This may have been the result of the techniques used. Whilst all samurai visual arts were created with a brush, (they were paintings), chonin art was predominantly created using the innovative technique of woodblock-print. The reason for this was that paintings were one-of-a-kind and therefore expensive, but woodblock-prints were able to be re-printed and distributed hundreds of times. Multi-colour woodblock prints, known as nishiki-e, were amongst the most popular artforms, amongst chonin.

Themes of chonin artworks were a world-apart from samurai ones. Instead of formal, Chinese themes, they depicted themes of everyday life, scenic locations like Mount Fuji, and famous kabuki actors or high ranking courtesans. Often, these artworks were created not for artistic fullfilment or in the hope of reaching fame, but in order to make money. Images of famous sites may have sold to tourists, or images of actors and courtesans to devoted fans.

No.5 in the series 'One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets'. / No.7 in the series 'One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets'. 

Katsushika Hokusai / Katsushika Hokusai. 

'Three Actors in the Scene of a Play' / 'Ichikawa Omezo'

Katsukawa Shunsho / Toshusai Sharaku. 

Some variances in chonin artistic preferences existed, depending on location. In Kyoto, the imperial city, chonin (influenced by the courtly aesthetic) admired refinement, in the like of imperial or samurai art. Paintings were, at times, reminiscent of traditional Japanese (yamato) themes and styles, or at other times, of a Chinese style. Kyoto’s literati bunjinga, were especially devoted to studying Chinese philosophy and fine arts. Other styles that appeared in Kyoto included- a creative and expressive style known as kijin, and a realistic style known as shaseiga.

'Crossing a Bridge'. / 'Pines in Snow'.

Uragami Gyokudo. / Maruyama Okyo. 

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