Posted by Darrel on July 08, 1997 at 21:35:05:
In Reply to: Re: Print Sizes posted by Pam F. on July 08, 1997 at 16:36:28:
Pam:
Unfortunately, there does not appear to be a set convention regarding print size measurements. The better authorities will expressly state if the measurements refers to image size or to paper size. Generally, I would suspect that the measure would be image size if a reference is otherwise silent, but you can't always be sure of that.
With regard to your oban/chuban question, the answer will likely depend upon what particular print and artist you are referring to. The different size could be indicative of a reproduction. However, prints in popular series by Hokusai and Hiroshige, for example, were printed in different sizes (or a substantially similar design was printed in more than one format), so it depends.
With regard to your postcard size question, what do you mean "of the period"? The fact that Watabane published it does not mean that it is not an original print. He published certain prints by Kawase Hasui, for example, as well as prints by other 20th century artists in that size in the 1930's, so they are certainly original prints. If you are talking about a 19th century print artist, I suspect that a print that small is likely a reproduction, only because of the difficulties of printing in that size. I personally am not aware of any commercially printed 19th century prints in that size, other than perhaps some surimono or ehon pages. However, I don't claim to have a lot of knowledge about that size print, so some 19th century artists may have printed some prints in that size.
Hope this helps.
Darrel C. Karl
darrel@erols.com