Courtesan as Fei Zhangfang in Silver & Gold
after Okumura Masanobu

Courtesan as Fei Zhangfang in Silver & Gold after Okumura Masanobu -size reference-

Ukiyo-e view from early period, single block print highly stylized. Such prints were heavily used for patterns in Art Nouveau and Anglo-Japanese style. Here we see courtesan in a role of one of the Eight immortals of Tao ascending to Heaven on crane. These types of images, called mitate-e – imitating images, were usually humorous and featured courtesans in roles of holy, noble or famous persons. Sometimes very simple to read but when ordered for private collection or illustration of the poem can get very complex in encoding of the meaning. Their tradition is kept in Banksy´s stencils, satirical and humorous.

This is the first painting where I explored possibilities of metallic colors on canvas. I used two kinds of gold, silver, platinum, champagne, pearl with titanium white and Prussian blue for outlining.

Technique: acrylic on canvas

Size: 120 x 177 cm (47.24 x 69.68 inch)

Year: May 2011

Availability: In Private Collection


100 Views of Ukiyo-e

During my exploration of the beginning of modern art (Impressionism and Post-Impressionism) I found myself surrounded by beautiful views of Ukiyo-e prints. They were my explanation to everything: modern/contemporary painting, design, illustration, comics and animation. Even more, I had to tell that to everyone. Firstly, I did impressions/interpretations of famous works of Hiroshige and Hokusai, but I couldn´t stop there… I finally found my call.100 Views of Ukiyo-e is my life mission to re-create new originals of selected 100 Ukiyo-e prints, new original painting in new oban size. It is divided in 4 Volumes of 25 canvases, some of the forming diptychs or triptychs. So far I have finished the first set that introduces several masters, styles and topics.

A review by Amalija Stojsavljević, art historian can be read here.


Volume I – Masters

The First Volume of series of paintings of the 100 Views of Ukiyo-e. This initial set was a practical part of my magistrate thesis in Arts at Academy of Fine Arts, Sarajevo. I tried to introduce great masters of Ukiyo-e, specific styles and topics from its begging to the end.

100 Views of Ukiyo-e, Volume I: Masters Exhibition Catalogue for Web