10 Stunning Japanese Woodblock Prints

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Japanese woodblock printing is a technique that finds its origins in the Buddhist temples of China, where it was used for centuries before being adopted and refined by Japanese artists during the Edo Period. The method involves transferring hand-drawn images onto wooden blocks, cutting into the wood, and then printing with inks from these relief images.

The Japanese printing genre of 'ukiyo-e' produced many of the most stunning examples of this artwork, and this list concentrates on artists working in that era. During its evolution, woodblock printing developed to enable full-colour imagery to be mass-produced and widely distributed.

(thanks Andy)