Origins

Buddhists from China entered Japan for the first time in the 8th century, bringing with them religious texts and the method of printmaking. This is where the Japanese first invented woodblock printing. However, their first prints were only single layers of black, Sumi ink housing religious material. Diversity in color, content, and subject matter was unnoticeable until 1603 when Japan underwent a massive transformation.

 

(Kano Tanyu, Overview of Tokugawa Ieyasu, 1603-1605)

The Tokugawa Shogunate became the ruling family for nearly 265 years. Tokugawa Ieyasu was the founder who consolidated his powers to guard against inner revolt and outside influences. This was the first time in Japanese history that a central authority ruled the entire country. The Shogunate sealed off Japan from any foreigners. Likewise, no Japanese were permitted to leave. Texts from Europe and China were also banned. Only scientific texts were permitted because of their practical application.

Class structures changed with the growth of Osaka and Edo, the new capital. It was, ironically the strict Shogunate who urged the wealthy class to spend money on trades and luxuries, instead of defenses. This developed a middle class filled with tradesmen and artisans, not just farmers. However, it was difficult for the Shogunate to control every aspect of urban life. The middle class developed tastes in theater, novels, and the visual arts. Also, without major internal wars to fight, the role of the Samurai became obsolete. They resorted to thievery, farming, or scholarly/artistic pursuits. In Edo, female prisoners were housed at the Yoshiwara, the district of pleasure. Under government approval, businessmen would organize and regulate the prisoners. These courtesans could charge high prices for their services, but it would take nearly a lifetime to pay off their debt, interest, and ergo freedom. No matter how morally bankrupt this was, the Yoshiwara would have a lasting impression on the ukiyo-e printmakers of Japan.

 

(Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Asahina Saburô Yoshihide wrestles with Two Crocodiles at Kotsubo Beach, Kamakura, c. 1849)

Ukiyo-e printmakers utilized the beauty of courtesans, and everyday life. The word ukiyo-e means “picture of the floating world”. Their prints depicted a portrayal of the pleasures in life that helped to relieve the strains of urban Japan. The ukiyo-e woodblock print flourished as a popular art for the masses during the approximate time period of 1660 to 1860. The designs are flat in space without any shadows. Prints are meant to be unframed, held close to the eyes, and without any illusion of depth. Ukiyo-e artists were experts at line drawing. Calligraphy and paintings are inseparable for the Japanese. Details of the figures, such as fabric and hairstyle reflected the current fashions of the time. Emotional content is represented by symbols, color posture, and animals.

Designs were actually handled by multiple professionals. If the prints were in multiple colors, an artist would draw each color separately. Once he was done with one color, a student would copy it onto thin, translucent sheets. From there, the publisher would strap a block of cherry wood to it.

Then the block maker cuts through the sheets, into the wood. This was how they established line definitions onto the wood of which they would cut around, making the design appear elevated above the wood. This was called the key block.

The block maker then spreads ink over it to prepare the first "pull", called a proof. If the proof reveals an error, the block maker will make the corresponding change to the wood.

Many numbers of proofs may be made for all the different colors until each one was complete. Afterwards, they pulled a single proof containing every color, exposing the true image in its entirety. If the whole image was ready for printing, a printer would be handed the painstaking task of producing up to 200 exact copies of the proof. Printers had to handle multiple key blocks, multiple colors, multiple registration marks, and multiple drying times. The success of a printer was determined by their precision, speed, and consistency. They were very meticulous. If prints were exposed to sunlight, the inks would fade. If too many prints were made, the blocks would deteriorate, making it impossible to produce future series. This all changed when printers learned to print  only one or two copies. This also gave everyone more time to make more, and artists gained greater detail in their works. 

New depictions were distributed giving rise to the fine-art print. These consisted of classical and contemporary themes like literary scenes, lives of celebrities, women of beauty, travel scenes, erotic scenes, and actors of different dramatic roles. They were sold commercially, which made artists internationally famous. Publishers also allowed consumers to request personalized work such as poetry, birth announcements, or New Year’s greetings, and so on.