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.
DIAGRAM:——Method of framing a block to prevent warping.
DIAGRAM:—The _Baren._—Its internal construction
DIAGRAM:—The _Baren._—Position of pad in sheath.
DIAGRAM:—The _Baren._—Method of use.
DIAGRAM:—Printer’s Desk.
HOKUSAI.—Original drawing for the key-block of an unpublished colour-print
in the series called “The Hundred Poets explained by the Nurse.” A junk,
with straw sail, conveying three travellers; at the bow a breaking wave.
At the top right-hand corner is a poem by Hoshoji no Nyudo Saki no
Kwampaku Daijo Daijin. O’er the wide sea plain, / As I row and look
around, It appears to me / That the white waves, far away, / Are the
ever-shining sky. From a drawing in the Victoria and Albert Museum. J. D.
1447.
TOYOKUNI. I.—Working proof from the key-block of a colour-print. A
theatrical scene; with the actors Nakayama Tomisaburo and Ichikawa Komazo
in the parts of the Geisha Sankatsu and Hanshichi. The artist has added a
wash of red colour to the print, with the following MS. note to the
printer, “Please gradate the colour like this.” From a print in the
Victoria and Albert Museum. J. 8494.