Japanese Print: A Historical Guide

Of all the aspects of Japanese art, woodblock prints have had the greatest appeal for the Western world. In fact, this art form has enjoyed greater popularity in Europe and America than it ever has in Japan itself, and it is fair to say that only after Western artists, collectors, and scholars gave high praise to Japanese prints did the Japanese themselves begin to appreciate the unique artistic heritage that was theirs. The vogue for these prints that began in the West in the late nineteenth century was induced largely by the astonishing originality of their designs and the brilliance of their colors—factors that influenced such artists as Whistler, van Gogh, and Cassatt.