Item Info

Media Type: Woodcuts
Source: Print and Picture Collection
Notes:

"The existence and popularity for woodblock prints produced only or mainly in shades of blue has to do with a German invention, Prussian blue. This is a synthetic color pigment invented by the German Johann Konrad Dippel (1673-1734) in 1704, and later produced by a company in Berlin, Germany, since the early 18th century.

This synthetic color allowed a stronger, more vibrant blue and was less prone to fading. And it allowed also a wider range of tones of blue, from light to dark. Before, the color blue was only available as a rather dark indigo blue from the natural pigments of the day flower petals. Synthetic colors in general have the advantage of not fading out at all or not so easily compared to natural pigments produced from plants or minerals."

from https://www.artelino.com/articles/aizuri-e.asp

Notes:

The courtesans Hanaogi from the Ogiya house, Hanamurasaki from the Tamaya house and Yosoi from the Matsubaya house (Ogiya uchi Hanaogi, Tamaya uchi Hanamurasaki, Matsubaya uchi Yosoi)

Edo period, 19^th century 

Bibliography:

https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2022/fine-japanese-prints/utagawa-kunisada-1786-1864-the-courtesans-hanaogi

Creation Year: ca. 1830
Creator Name: Kunisada, Utagawa, 1786-1864 - Artist