Q1. What does ukiyo-e refer to?
Ukiyo-e means “pictures of the floating world” and is associated with images of urban pleasures, fashions, and popular culture.
Arts
Quiz: The Art of Japanese Woodblock Prints
Sample questions from this book. Open the app for the full chapter quizzes and final exam.
Q2. What was the purpose of kentō in multicolor woodblock printing?
Kentō were registration guides that helped align the paper across successive impressions from different color blocks.
Q3. Which artist is associated with the development of nishiki-e in the 1760s?
Suzuki Harunobu is closely associated with the emergence of full-color nishiki-e, or “brocade pictures.”
Q4. Which subject is central to Hokusai’s Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji?
Hokusai’s series presents Mount Fuji from many settings and distances, demonstrating the appeal of landscape prints.
Q5. What distinguishes sōsaku-hanga from the traditional collaborative production model?
The sōsaku-hanga movement emphasized artist-made prints, with artists taking a direct role in producing their work.
Q6. What was the publisher’s typical role in Edo-period print production?
The publisher generally financed and organized production, coordinated specialists, and considered what might appeal to buyers.
Q7. What was the purpose of kentō marks?
Kentō were registration marks that helped printers position the sheet consistently on each block.
Q8. How did a printer commonly transfer water-based color from a block to paper?
The printer placed the sheet against the inked block and used a baren to rub and transfer the impression.