Posted by Gary G. on July 11, 1997 at 21:57:17:
In Reply to: Re: Print Sizes posted by Pam F. on July 09, 1997 at 18:48:31:
:
: : When measuring a woodblock print, do you measure the whole paper or just the outline of the print? If the print is chuban and it is listed in a book as oban, does that mean it is considered a reproduction? If you have a small postcard size woodblock signed and published of the period, would it be an original or a Wantanabe ?
: : : Oban is the standard print format, approximately 15" x 10" (38 cm x 25 cm), although the exact size tends to vary somewhat. Chuban is the typical small print size, about 10" x 7 1/2" (26 cm x 19 cm). Other common sizes are aiban -- approximately 13" x 9" (34.2 cm x 22.5 cm); hosoban -- approximately 13" x 5 5/8" (33 cm x 14.5 cm); large oban -- 22 3/4" x 12 1/2" (58 cm x 32 cm); hashira-e -- 28 3/4" x 4 3/4" (73 cm x 12 cm); and kakemono-e -- 30" x 9" (76.5 cm x 23 cm). Prints in Japanese picture books (ehon) tend to be smaller: obon -- 10 1/2" x 7 1/2" (27 cm x 19 cm); hanshi-bon -- 9" x 6 1/4" (23 cm x 16 cm); chubon -- 7" x 4 3/4" (18 cm x 12 cm); and yokobon -- 4 1/4" x 6 3/4" (11 cm x 17 cm). Obviously, a reproduction can be made in any size. I am aware of reproductions of Hiroshige prints, for example, made in Watanabe's studios in the mid-1930's that were as small as 72 mm x 51 mm (postcard size).
: : : darrel@erols.com
: The postcard size woodblock is by Utamaro. It has an early signature. It has a Tsuruya Kiemon publishing stamp. It has,I think, a kitsubushi background. It is of a bijin reading a book. The smaller than listed is a Hiroshige. It is a part of 100 view of Yedo. It has no publishers stamp and is set in the frame on top of the background. I don't know whether it is glued or not. It does have an interesting tissue paper description glued on the back if the frame. It is first written in Japanese and then translated into English, with grammer and tense errors. Consequently, I am confused as to what these might be. Thanks for the previouly quick response.
Hi Pam,
Reproductions of famous woodblock prints and paitings
were often produced in somewhat smaller more managable sizes
as Darrel said.
Some were mounted in folders with a tissue paper/onionskin front leaf
on which was written information about the artist and
print/painting. Your Hiroshige appears to be one of
these with the front leaf pasted to the back of the frame.
Gary G.