Ukiyo-eShin-HangaContemporary
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- Our collection of ukiyo-e prints includes over 200 original works by renowned artists such as Hiroshige and Toyokuni III. Genuine works from the Edo (1603-1868) and Meiji (1868-1912) periods.
To create a woodblock print, the artist first sketches the image on paper. This is carved on woodblocks by master engravers who pass them on to master printers. They then consult with the publisher and the artist to create the final image.
During the Edo period, the first run usually consisted of 200 copies of the image, which are known as "Shoki-zuri" (early printing). If the image proved to be popular, more prints would be made. These prints usually have an edition number printed on them, but there are also ukiyo-e without one.
Unfortunately, there are few remaining original ukiyo-e woodblocks that can be used for printing. A lot of woodblocks were lost to fires during the early Meiji and Edo period and some have been lost to the natural degradation of wood.
To address this, in 20th century some publishers began reproducing woodblocks to print popular images.
S. Watanabe Color Print has an extensive collection of excellent images that our master printers study closely so that our reproduction prints are of the same quality.
Our reproduction images bear a black round seal in the lower margins that reads "Watanabe". This is our guarantee of quality, and also helps collectors identify our work. We are proud and confident of our images, and look forward to your visit.
- *For purchases of 10,001 yen or more, bring your passport and you can save the 5 percent consumption tax. (tourists only)
Clicking on these links will take you to the artists' wikipedia pages.
- Hokusai
- Utamaro
- Hiroshige
- Sharaku
- Toyokuni
- Prints produced after the Taisho period (1911~) and primarily in the early 20th century are called "Shin-hanga", in contrast to prints from the Edo and Meiji period, which are called "Ukiyo-e."
Just like Ukiyo-e, Shin-Hanga prints are divided into "shoki-zuri" and "ato-zuri" prints (early prints and later prints).
Shin-Hanga woodblocks are unfortunately rare. Many of them were lost during the Kanto Earthquake of 1923 or during World War II. In addition, the shortages that Japan faced during this period often meant that artists carved their prints on sub-standard wood, which easily succumbed to the elements. In other cases, a woodblock was "carved down" in order to make a different image with the same piece of wood.
For example, Master Hasui Kawase passed away only in 1957, but the majority of the woodblocks created for his images have been rendered useless by seasonal conditions such as temperature and humidity. As such, the few remaining high-quality woodblocks that remain are greatly treasured.
Our "ato-zuri" images bear a red seal in the lower margins that reads "Watanabe." This is our guarantee of quality, and also helps collectors identify our work and the period in which they were printed. We are proud and confident of our images, and look forward to your visit.
- *For purchases of 10,001 yen or more, bring your passport and you can save the 5 percent consumption tax. (tourists only)
Clicking on these links will take you to the artists' wikipedia pages.
- Hasui
- Hashiguchi
- Yoshida
- *For purchases of 10,001 yen or more, bring your passport and you can save the 5 percent consumption tax. (tourists only)
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