Why did ukiyo-e emerge as an art form in Japan in the 17th century?

In the 17th century, with the development of the commercial economy in Japan, the accumulation of wealth of the civic class, and the prevalence of urban pleasure life, figure paintings, custom paintings, and landscape paintings expressing the lives of Kabuki actors, geisha, courtesans, and the civic class, as well as scenic spots and landscapes, were developed. In addition to the original single-panel paintings, a large number of these paintings were also engraved and printed. The art of ukiyo-e was called "ukiyo-e" because its main content reflected the social life of the townspeople.

There are two types of ukiyo-e: woodblock prints and brushstrokes. The former is engraved and printed, while the latter is hand-painted. This type of painting centered in Edo (present-day Tokyo), continued to develop for about 200 years, and has maintained a strong vitality.