Woodblock printing is a technique best known for its use in the ukiyo-e artistic genre; however, it was also used for printing type long before the advent of movable type. The technique is basically the same as that which is called woodcut in Western print making.

The text or image would be drawn onto washi (Japanese paper), and then glued onto a plank of wood, usually cherry. Wood would then be cut away, based on the outlines given by the drawing. A small hard object called a barren would be used to burnish the paper against the inked woodblock.  Color was later applied to the outlined image area.

Western artists were influenced by these woodblock images, notably  the impressionist artists in France and America.   Our ETC collections include original woodblock prints by Japanese artists like Utamaru (# PA150  & #PA149), O Shosan ( #PA158) and other masters (#PA159 )  and  (#PA151.)   Take a look at these delightful and elegant images.