Warrior Minamoto No Yoshitsune on Horseback from series Famous Warrior Heroes by Utagawa Yoshimori (1830-85), published 1886.
Japanese woodblock prints originated in the 18th century and began a popularized art trade. Woodblock prints became commercialized art, used for images on playing cards and religious memorabilia. Two of the most famous woodcutters in Japanese history were Katsushika Hokusai and Ando Hiroshige, both of whom produced woodblock prints in the late 17th and early 18th century. Woodblock prints were some of the first means of communication before the printing press was invented. Today many collectors buy and sell authentic woodblock prints.
Instructions
Key Block Lines
1. Compare the key block lines (lines that represent the basic drawing of the design) to an original, either the original woodblock print or a photograph from a reference book.
2. Look at all the lines of the print closely (including inscriptions) with a magnifying glass to find variations in line thickness, direction and angle. Expect to find variations among the prints if one is a copy or reprint.
3. Compare the quality of the block cutting and printing. Original prints tend to have smooth lines and brush stroke appearances, where copies produce sharper lines and uniformed edges.
Colors and Papers
4. Compare the prints for a range of color hues, richness, translucency and texture. Many copies will not have such a wide array of color qualities.
5. Flip the print over and look to see if the design has bled through the paper. Many copies do not have reverse designs on the back.
6. Compare the paper quality and size. Originals will be smoother and have glue or another substance that controls and limits the absorbancy of the paper. Copies tend to be stiffer. Originals tend to be on washi paper.
7. Feel the paper for the condition of the print. Textures vary based on age of the print, condition of the glue and paper, and whether the print is an original or copy.
Liklihood of Reproduction
8. Research the print for popularity. Most copies are made from popular and attractive originals. Obscure and rare designs are copied much less often than masterpieces.
9. Discern the size of the original print compared to the copy. Most originals are made in distinct sizes, although many copies are also made in the same size.
10. Look for differences in the printing from the original. Blocks become warped if the papers are of different sizes, which leads to colors mixed differently or an application of inconsistent pressure. Copies are more uniform and appear machine-made.
