The world of printmaking can sometimes be confusing. There are a great many styles and many of them have multiple names. For example, wood engraving, woodblock printing, woodcut and xylography all describe a common process, as do silk screening and serigraphy. In the world of making prints, however, engraving is perhaps the most beautiful and ancient of the "printed" fine arts. It reached one of its highest points in the Japanese unique fine arts traditions of the 1600s and later.

The Japanese technique of engraving into wood has a long history. For hundreds of years Japan has produced beautiful and unique woodcut and woodblock prints. They emphasize fleeting images of everyday life and entertainments, reflected in the name given to their art, ukiyo-e, which means "pictures of the floating world". The floating world is the world that changes quickly. This printing technique flourished until the later 19th century, when a western oriented government caused artists to give up traditional woodcut techniques in favor of new, Western art techniques. Since the early 20th century, however, traditional printing techniques like woodblock have again become popular.

The most famous Japanese woodcut artists include the 17th century's Moronobu, and the 18th century's Harunobu, Kitagawa and Sharaku. Printmaking in the 19th century was dominated by the beautiful and famous landscape prints of Hiroshige and Hokusai.

If you are interested in expanding your collection of beautiful and unique fine arts, consider the elegant and magical images of Japanese woodcut and woodblock prints.

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About The Author:

Barbara Swanson is a successful author and a distinguished freelance writer who specializes in art, music, education and international issues.