Rare Ukiyo-e Research Materials, Set of 50 Biographical Sheets - In the first half of the 20th century woodblock prints gained popularity in the West. The skilled artisans to create new prints were plentiful in Japan. So several major publishers endeavored to recreate famous ukiyo-e works to sell to collectors and tourists from abroad. The reprints from those 20th century publishers were often casually collected. To educate the collecting public the publishers cooperated with ukiyo-e scholars to write descriptions and biographies to accompany the prints. These research materials are not cataloged elsewhere and offer expertly researched information on hundreds of ukiyo-e designs from the classic ukiyo-e era.

Offered at auction are 50 such biographical sheets from early 20th century reprint releases. Each folded sheet has a small black and white image with description of the specific subject pictured in both English and Japanese, along with information about the artist or the time period The set includes descriptions for works by Hokusai, Hiroshige, Utamaro, Kiyonaga, and others. These texts are fascinating scholarly reading and a rare opportunity to learn from texts that have mostly been forgotten. See examples below.

Please note - This group of materials is heavy. International bidders are welcome, however, there is an additional $15 charge to ship the set internationally.

Artist - Various

Size - 15" x 10 1/2"

Condition - A few sheets have toning, a few spots, or creases. Please see photos for details.