From extensive research as presented in the resources offered through this libguide, we can see that it was more common for Ukiyo-E artists to come from the commoner and court classes of Edo period Japan than the military samurai class (Morse, 2007). Its artists and supporters were mainly artisans and merchants (Moore, 2007); the artform's existence and artists were funded by the wealthy both as consumers of woodblocks and personally-commissioned work (Carpenter, 2008). Samurai, kabuki artists, landscapes, and other subject matter common in Japan served as great inspiration for Ukiyo-E, including Shinto/Buddhist mythology and Japanese folklore, which made Ukiyo-E a subject and theme rich art form with an extensive variety that captured the island nation well. This makes Ukiyo-E a fun topic to explore in Japanese art history and hopefully this libguide serves as a good vantage point and aid for those who are interested in researching Ukiyo-E.
Morse, A. N., & Asano, S. (2007). Drama and desire: Japanese paintings from the floating world, 1690-1850. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
Meech, J., Oliver, J., & Carpenter, J. T. (2008). Designed for pleasure: The world of edo japan in prints and paintings, 1680-1860. Asia Society and Japanese Art Society of America ; in association with University of Washington Press.