Hishikawa Moronobu

Hishikawa Moronobu was a pioneering Japanese artist and printmaker, widely regarded as the father of ukiyo-e, a genre of woodblock prints and paintings that flourished in Edo-period Japan. Moronobu's work marked the transition from hand-painted scrolls to mass-produced woodblock prints, making art more accessible to the public. His prints often depicted scenes of everyday life, beautiful women, and kabuki actors, characterised by their elegant line work and dynamic compositions. Moronobu's innovative techniques and subject matter set the standard for subsequent generations of ukiyo-e artists, cementing his legacy as a foundational figure in Japanese art history.