How to Collect Japanese Woodblock Prints
- 1). Learn the history of ukiyo-e printing. Early prints used a single color ink with later printers developing color registration techniques.
- 2). Look for artists that appeal to you. There are countless styles of Japanese wood block prints ranging from stylized landscapes to flowers to erotic prints.
- 3). Look to see what prints have sold recently either on-line or at auction. Many woodblock print dealers will list their sold inventory. If you are collecting as an investment, look for styles that are selling well through multiple galleries or dealers.
- 4). Talk with dealers personally before buying. Ask for references. Creating a duplicate of a woodblock print using a scanner and ink-jet printer is not difficult. Some disreputable dealers sometimes sell these as "inexpensive originals."
- 5). Be very cautious of auction sites like eBay. Some sellers have little experience with authenticating woodblock prints and may, either inadvertently or intentionally, sell a copy as an original. Only buy from sellers who offer references.
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