Tools and materials illustrating the Japanese method of colour-printing
VICTORIA & ALBERT MUSEUM CATALOGUES TOOLS AND MATERIALS ILLUSTRATING THE JAPANESE METHOD OF COLOUR-PRINTING A DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OF A COLLECTION EXHIBITED IN THE MUSEUM
By Edward Strange
UTAMARO.—Yedo Meibutsu Nishikiye Kosaku. “The making of colour-prints, the famous product of Yedo: after the engraver's rough engraving the design is carefully carved.” An illustration of the carving of wood-blocks fancifully represented as being done by women. From a print in the Victoria and Albert Museum. J. 5040.
This pamphlet has been prepared by Mr. Edward F. Strange, of the Department of Engraving, Illustration and Design, for use primarily in connection with a collection of Tools, Materials and Examples, specially brought together and now exhibited in the Museum, to illustrate the technique of Japanese Colour-printing from wood-blocks. The descriptive matter has been somewhat amplified, in order to render it of value to those who cannot immediately refer to the Museum collections.
The works of reference consulted, are named herein; and acknowledgment must also be made to Mr. Hogitaro Inada, for translations from the Japanese, kindly supplied by him.
CECIL SMITH.
Victoria and Albert Museum, 1913.
It is not unimportant to add that this process, sometimes modified in detail, has been revived in Europe; and is now practised by a considerable number of artists. The Department of Engraving, Illustration, and Design contains a representative collection of their productions, including a consecutive set of working proofs (E. 20-26, 1904) of a print by Mr. J. D. Batten and Mr. Morley Fletcher, who were the first to use the method in England. The collection also includes a similar set of working proofs of the modern development of the process, as used for the reproduction of paintings by Old Masters by the Shimbi ShoÌin (E. 1862-2043, 1910).