Ukiyo-e

How It Works

Ukiyo-e art is usually centred around subjects from the entertainment districts from the Tokugawa shogunate era. This meant a lot of art about courtesans in pleasure houses, Kabuki actors, cute teahouses, and lots of landscapes by the end of the movement.

Because of this focus, I’ve selected 4 base prompts that touch on each theme. Below gives you an idea of what the images look like without any additional keywords.

Floating World was a celebrated term used to describe the hedonistic lifestyle of the lower class. Even though the lower class’s economic strength was growing during this time, they still had no social mobility. Meaning they had all this extra money to spend, but no way to meaningfully move up in life. So, instead, they spent their extra money on the entertainment districts at brothels, teahouses, and the theatre.

Asai Ryōi says it best in their novel Ukiyo Monogatari (Tales of the Floating World):

“[L]iving only for the moment, savouring the moon, the snow, the cherry blossoms, and the maple leaves, singing songs, drinking sake, and diverting oneself just in floating, unconcerned by the prospect of imminent poverty, buoyant and carefree, like a gourd carried along with the river current: this is what we call ukiyo.”

Firefly Effects: Art

Hedonism describes a self-indulgent lifestyle where an individual seeks only the pleasures of life.

This keyword generates opulent, sexual, and sometimes disturbing images. It shows both the beauty and the darkness of pursuing a hedonistic lifestyle.

Firefly Effects: Art

A triptych describes artwork that is divided across three panels. These panels are often hinged together so that the artwork can be opened and shut. This style is very reminiscent of changing screens in Japan.

This keyword creates some very interesting compositions. Dividing the art into 3 panels prompts the AI to create something more unique. Sometimes, the image is just cut up into 3 pieces, like most of the landscapes below. However, at other times, each panel shows something unique but when each panel is put together, it tells an interesting story.

Firefly Effects: Art

This keyword gives the images a sense of the temporary nature of life. A lot of the images show the world changing. Changing seasons, changing wind, changing desire.

Subjects tend to be the most gender fluid with this keyword, in most of the other images Kabuki actors tend to be male and the corteseans female, but I found this changed the most with this keyword.

Firefly Effects: Art

This keyword generates the most traditional-looking Ukiyo-e since it was the most popular medium used in the movement.

Firefly Effects: Art

This keyword gives the photos an aged look and leans more towards traditional Ukiyo-e prints.

Painting gives the generated photos a more brushed look, adding texture and depth.

Firefly Effects: Art

This keyword is great at aging the generated photos. What’s even better is that it works in Firefly too! Colours and yellowed or faded to make the images look close to what the art looked like during that time.

Firefly Effects: Art

Due to the general anxiety felt during this period, a lot of Ukiyo-e art focused on the macabre and Disturbia. Using this keyword brings to life creepy artwork that looks like it was pulled straight out of a ghost story, similar to the great work of Utagawa Kuniyoshi.

Firefly Effects: Art

Due to the rising economic power of the merchant class, opulence and luxury were starting to not just be reserved for the upper class.

Opulent costumes and outfits were popularly used in the theatres and pleasure houses, so they often appeared in Ukiyo-e art.

Firefly Effects: Art

Screen painting was a popular medium used in Ukiyo-e art. This keyword usually is given an aged look, and appears to be painted on Japanese changing screens.

Firefly Effects: Art, painting

The Ukiyo-e, floating world concept has a lot of similarities to France’s notion of Joie de Vive.

This keyword gives the images a slightly more French look, and tends to generate happier subjects.

Firefly Effects: Art