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814 Chapter 28
Japanese WoodblockPrintingWoodblock printing in Japan evolved from black-and-white prints createdby Buddhists in the 700s. By the late 1700s, artists learned how to createmulticolor prints.
Woodblock prints could be produced quickly and in large quantities,so they were cheaper than paintings. In the mid-1800s, a Japanese personcould buy a woodblock print for about the same price as a bowl ofnoodles. As a result, woodblock prints like those shown here became awidespread art form. The most popular subjects included actors, beautifulwomen, urban life, and landscapes.
RESEARCH LINKS For more on Japanese woodblock printing, go to classzone.com
▲ Naniwaya OkitaThe artist Kitagawa Utamaro created many prints of attractivewomen. This print shows Naniwaya Okita, a famous beauty ofthe late 1700s. Her long face, elaborate hairstyle, and many-colored robes were all considered part of her beauty.
▲ Carving the BlockThese photographs show a modern artistcarving a block for the black ink. (The artistmust carve a separate block for each colorthat will be in the final print.)
Carving the raised image requiresprecision and patience. For example, DavidBull, the artist in the photographs, makesfive cuts to create each strand of hair. Oneslip of the knife, and the block will beruined.
1. Making Inferences What personalqualities and skills would an artistneed to be good at makingwoodblock prints?
See Skillbuilder Handbook, page R10.
2. Forming and Supporting OpinionsHokusai’s print of the wave, shownabove, remains very popular today.Why do you think this image appealsto modern people?
▲ Under the Wave off KanagawaKatsushika Hokusai was one of the mostfamous of all Japanese printmakers. This sceneis taken from his well-known series Thirty-SixViews of Mount Fuji. Mount Fuji, which manyJapanese considered sacred, is the small peakin the background of this scene.
▲ PrintingAfter the carved block is inked, the artist presses paper on it, printing apartial image. He or she repeats this stage for each new color. The artistmust ensure that every color ends up in exactly the right place, so thatno blocks of color extend beyond the outlines or fall short of them.
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