Weaving the Lines for Nishiki-e: Creativity of Craftsmen in Pre-Modern Japan.

This paper aims to re-examine the roles of engravers and printers in the producing process of Nishiki-e, multicolored woodblock prints made in 18th–19th century Japan. Previous research has privileged the creative ideas of artists while regarding the craftsmen's work as mere reproduction. In contras...

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Publicado en:Humanities (2076-0787) Vol. 15; no. 1; pp. 3 - 19
Autor principal: Takahashi, Momoka
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: MDPI Jan2026
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Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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        atl: Weaving the Lines for Nishiki-e: Creativity of Craftsmen in Pre-Modern Japan.
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        au: Takahashi, Momoka
        affil: Department of Design, Graduate School of Design, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 815-8540, Japan
      su:
        Creative ability
        Woodcutting (Printmaking)
        Ingold, Tim
        Sprang
        Computer printers
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        subj:
          Creative ability
          Woodcutting (Printmaking)
          Ingold, Tim
          Sprang
          Computer printers
      keyword:
        correspondence
        improvisation
        line-making
        meshwork
        Nishiki-e
      ab: This paper aims to re-examine the roles of engravers and printers in the producing process of Nishiki-e, multicolored woodblock prints made in 18th–19th century Japan. Previous research has privileged the creative ideas of artists while regarding the craftsmen's work as mere reproduction. In contrast, this paper re-evaluates the Nishiki-e production process, comprising publishers, painters, engravers, and printers, as a "meshwork," a concept proposed by anthropologist Tim Ingold. By examining documents and specific works from three perspectives of imagery, coloring, and texture, this paper argues that the engravers and printers were also deeply involved in selecting lines and colors in the finished work. It reveals that Nishiki-e were products woven through the correspondence between humans and materials, reflecting economic factors and spectators' pleasure.
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