Katie Williamson – Two Decades of Collecting and Counting

Katie Williamson has been collecting Japanese woodblock prints for more than twenty years, a journey that grew out of her broader passion for antiques. With a keen eye for craftsmanship and cultural history, she naturally gravitated toward ukiyo-e, where artistry, storytelling, and tradition come together in a uniquely compelling way.

Favorite Artists
Katie’s tastes span several major figures in the ukiyo-e world. She gravitates toward the lyrical landscapes of Andō Hiroshige, the dynamic portraits of Kunisada and the striking, expressive actor studies of Sharaku. Together, these artists represent the full spectrum of design, drama, and nuance that made ukiyo-e such a defining art form.

What Appeals About Collecting Ukiyo-e
For Katie, the beauty of collecting lies in the cultural and historical reach of the prints themselves. She’s particularly drawn to how Japanese woodblock prints influenced the development of Western art, inspiring movements from Impressionism to Post-Impressionism. She also admires ukiyo-e for the breadth of subjects it captures -landscape, theater, fashion, folklore, everyday life – and for its remarkable balance of quality and affordability. It’s an art form that remains both accessible and endlessly rich.

Advice for New Collectors
Her guidance for newcomers is simple and enthusiastic: just dive in. There’s no substitute for the joy of discovery, and collecting becomes most rewarding when approached with curiosity and openness.

Final Thoughts
To Katie, ukiyo-e is nothing less than a superb pictorial record of Japanese art and culture. After two decades of collecting, the prints still offer new layers of meaning, beauty, and history–proof that the world of ukiyo-e is as deep as it is inviting.

Selected Favorite Prints

Hiroshige: Hoeido Tokaido - Hakone

Hiroshige: Hoeido Tokaido - Shono

Hiroshige: Hoeido Tokaido - Kanbara