Bijin: Beautiful woman
Bijinga: Prints depicting beautiful women (also written
"bijin-ga")
Diptych: A set of two prints that when placed next to
each other create a scene; most commonly oban in size this method
was used by Ukiyoe artists to create larger scenes than there
was available paper
Edo: The modern day city of Tokyo; the period between
1603 - 1868 A.D.
Hanga: woodblock print; also commonly used to describe
a print of the modern Showa Era
Hashira-e: "pillar print", narrow verticle print
averaging 70 by 12 centimeters
Heisei Era: Current era of Japan 1989 to present
Hosoban: narrow print averaging 30 by 15 centimeters
Kabuki: Traditional theater in Japan
Kamuro: A courtesian's assistant or apprentice;
you will see these younger women in prints doing such things as
pouring tea.
Meiji: Japanese era spanning the years 1868 to 1912
Nishiki-e: A full color print; pioneered by
Harunobu
Oban: The most common size of Japanese print; averaging
58 by 32 centimeters. Oban Tate-e ukiyoe prints are printed in
portrait orientation and Oban Yoko-e are printed in landscape
orientation.
Onnagata: Male actor who plays female roles in Kabuki
Shin Hanga: Prints from the early 1900's
Showa: Modern era of Japan; 1926 to 1989
Shunga: Spring pictures; prints with erotic subject matter
Surimono: small prints similar to modern postcards, invitations
and flyers. Surimono was typically given as gifts rather than
used in commerce.
Taisho: Japanese era between 1912 to 1926
Triptych: A series of three prints which when placed next
to each other create a scene; most commonly obon in size this
method was used by Ukiyoe artists to create larger pictures than
there was available paper
Ukiyoe: Images of the floating world; prints dealing mainly
with the subject matter of pleasure (also written "ukiyoe-e")
Utagawa School: 19th century school of print
designers.
Washi: handmade Japanese paper made from mulberry
Yakusha-e: an actor print
Yoshiwara: amusement district of Edo Japan, this district
is depicted in a great amount of Ukiyoe
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