About Mie Gallery

The Meaning of “Mie”

In Kabuki theatre, the most dramatic moment of a performance is known as the mie (見え or 見得).

The mie is a powerful pose struck by the actor—often accompanied by an intense, cross-eyed glare—before freezing in place for several seconds. This moment marks the emotional climax of the scene. The audience’s attention narrows. Time seems to stop. The drama becomes unforgettable.

Much like a cinematic close-up, the mie captures raw emotion and fixes it in memory.

It is no coincidence that Japanese woodblock artists frequently depicted this moment in yakusha-e (Kabuki actor prints). The expression, the tension, and the energy of the performance could be preserved forever on paper.

Mie Gallery takes its name from this defining moment.

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A Moment Frozen in Time

Like the dramatic mie itself, Japanese woodblock prints capture moments that would otherwise be lost to history.

Surviving prints have endured:

• Over 50 - 150 years of time
• Earthquakes, fires, and war
• Shifting governments and cultural change
• Multiple generations of collectors

What remains is not merely an image—but a tangible record of Japanese artistic culture.

At Mie Gallery, we curate woodblock prints that we find artistically compelling, historically meaningful, and worthy of preservation.

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Our Focus

Our primary collecting period spans approximately 1840 to 1900, covering the late Edo period through the Meiji era.

We actively seek works by artists including:

• Katsushika Hokusai
• Utagawa Hiroshige
• Hiroshige II
• Utagawa Kunisada
• Utagawa Kuniyoshi
• Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
• Toyohara Kunichika
• Yoshiiku
• Yoshitora
• Kawanabe Kyōsai
• and other masters of the ukiyo-e tradition

We also curate specific genres and series that reflect the breadth of Japanese woodblock art, including landscapes, warriors, Kabuki actors, historical narratives, and mythological subjects.

Our gallery offers hundreds of original Japanese woodblock prints for sale, with detailed descriptions, high-resolution images, and educational references whenever possible.

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What We Believe

We believe it is more meaningful to own an original woodblock print printed during the artist’s lifetime—or at least from early editions—than a pristine modern reprint produced long after the artist’s death.

An authentic vintage print carries:

• Original handmade paper
• Period pigments
• Impressions of hand-carved blocks
• The physical evidence of traditional printing techniques

Most importantly, it carries history.

An original ukiyo-e print tells a story that no reproduction can replicate.

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How We Price Our Japanese Woodblock Prints

Our pricing reflects a balance between accessibility and quality.

Each print is evaluated based on:

• Condition and impression quality
• Artist reputation and market demand
• Subject matter and rarity
• Historical auction results
• Our acquisition cost

Our goal is to offer fair to high-quality original prints at collector-friendly prices.

Because we operate as a direct-to-collector gallery, many of our prints are priced 15–40% below comparable gallery retail, including museum-quality examples.

We encourage collectors to compare.

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Payments

We accept secure online payments via:

• Credit card
• PayPal

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Education, Consulting & Presentations

Education is central to our mission.

We believe that collecting Japanese woodblock prints becomes far more rewarding when collectors understand the history, techniques, artists, and cultural context behind the works.

To support this goal, we offer:

• No-cost consultations on Japanese woodblock prints (1800–1900)
• Educational guidance for new collectors
• Collection reviews and opinions

For businesses and educational organizations—particularly within the Los Angeles area—we are also available for:

• In-person presentations
• Teaching events
• Educational lectures
• Artwork consignment opportunities

Please contact us for additional information.

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Calling All Collectors

If you collect ukiyo-e and would like to share your journey, favorite prints, or collecting insights, we invite you to participate in our Collectors Page.

Our goal is to elevate the visibility of Japanese woodblock print collecting and foster a global collector community.

Participation is free and non-commercial.

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Our Commitment

Every print offered by Mie Gallery is:

• An authentic vintage Japanese woodblock print
• Individually researched and described
• Photographed front and back whenever possible
• Carefully packaged using archival materials
• Backed by a transparent return policy

We welcome questions, corrections, and additional scholarly insight from collectors and researchers alike.

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Happy Collecting,

Richard Parr
Gallery Curator and Collector
Mie Gallery