Japanese wood-cutting and wood-cut printing / by T. Tokuno ; edited by S.R. Koehler.

  • Tokuno, T.
Date:
1894
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Japanese wood-cutting and wood-cut printing / by T. Tokuno ; edited by S.R. Koehler. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    18/56 page 226
    riGMENTS AND VEHICLES USED FOR PRINTING—Five COlorS Of pigments only [black, white, red, yellow, blue] are generally nsed for the most characteristic Japanese printing, such as the picture called Yinaka -enji,* sent to the U. S. National Museum. They are all mixed with the necessary quantity of water, when about to be used, and the various hues, shades, and tints required are obtained by mixnig the proper pigments together. These pigments, of which samples were sent to the U. S. National Museum, are the following: « Blacl- »tsuke-zumi,is generally prepared by macerating Japan- ese ink (a kind of India ink) in water for a few days, until the glue con tained in it is dissolved, and the ink is sufficiently softened It is the., ground by means of pestle and mortar. As, however the t.uke zumi so made is very liable to deterioration, a sample of a lampblacl: obtained from a Japanese ink ulcerated in water so as to remove th^^ due was sent to the U. S. National Museum. Consequently when thi^ fampblack is to be used, and after it has been mixed mth water, gku solution, or rice paste (according to the judgment of the printer) w have to be added. If glue solution is used it should be mixed wi the lampblack in a basin, but if rice paste is used, that is mixed witl the pigment on the plank itself by means of the brush. b White, to-no-tsuchi, is white lead. It is used either alone, f<> prints of flowers, birds, etc., or mixed mth other colors, if light tint or body colors are wanted. on three sheL, intended t^ be pasted together, eacTi sheet measuring abont 9J LcWn bretdth by 14 inches in height, printed snrface, or the tliree sheets, ^vhen rested together, about 29 inches in breadth by 14 inches in height. It represents a Sv ]^.ndfcape in the middle ground of ^hich agricultural operations are being trid on 1 4 arger figures occupy the foreground, as follows: On the first sheet aree™^^ dressed ladies, the one to the left kneelmg turned to- ardsTe right, and holding a parcel in her left hand. The one to tlje right stands ;h the bocfy turned towards the right, but looking Vn>on the hneeling figux I the left and holding in her left hand a xessel suspended by a string. In the Lcond o? middle shee^t there is another richly dressed lady, kneeling with he^ body nearly fronting the spectator, while her face, shaded by the left liand, is turned u; towards'the group in the third sheet. In her right hand ^^^^.Ja tie third sheet there is a group of three figures. A man likewise y '^^^ 'l' wearing a sword in his belt, and holding a pipe in his left hand, stand tur.. somewhat towards the left, but looking back upon a I'^dy who kueels to the ri, of him and makes an appealing gesture with her left hand. To the S^, of t , kneeling lady, somewhat back of aud bending down towards her, is a second l.ul> standinl who makes a gesture of astonishment with her left hand. Both are r.chl> dressed The coloring is brilliant, mostly in flat masses, with little 'o^^f ^g gradation, except in the sky. The first sheet has 25 printings, the third 23, including a blind impression, which produces an embossed pattern u the garment of one of the figures. . n„ iilns -Yinaka genji is the title of a Japanese novel, of winch this picture i. an lUua tration.
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