Ota Memorial Museum of Art (2)
π The techniques used in woodblock frontispieces are essentially the same as those in Edo period ukiyo-e. However, since these are illustrations, the artist would create a draft based on the novelist's instructions. πΈπ Then, the engraver would carve the woodblocks, and the printer would produce the final prints. A significant difference from the Edo period is that the production process involving the artist has increased dramatically. πΈπ In the Edo period, simple color instructions were given for the "key block," which was tested with a single black print. In the production of woodblock frontispieces, the color instructions became much more detailed. πΈπThis shift was driven by the fact that, entering the Meiji era, the technical level of woodblock printing made a leap forward. As a result, it became possible to achieve a level of detailed expression close to that of hand-painted works.β¨ πΈπ The beautiful expressions made possible by the significant advancements in technology during the mid-Meiji period are key points of appreciation in this exhibition. #Tokyo ππ
