Moku Hanga (木版画) or woodblock printing is a unique art form of Japan. To make a woodblock print an image was painted on a thin piece of paper called washi (わし) and glued to a flat piece of wood. Then the artist would carve away an image on the wood. Lastly, the ink was added to the wood to complete the image.

There are different kinds of woodblock printing, all very beautiful, but different from each other.

The Benizurie (紅刷絵) are crimson colored woodblock prints. The name Benizurie means “rose colored printed pictures” and that’s because pinks, reds and greens characterize this type of woodblock printing. This woodblock printing was made by Ishikawa Toyonobu (石川豊信) and depicts two Kabuki (かぶき) actors.

The Aizurie (藍摺り絵)  are blue colored woodblock prints. In fact, Aizurie means “blue printed picture” and refers to woodblock prints that are printed in different shades of blue and sometimes red. This woodblock print was created by Sawa Sekkyō (沢雪喬) and is a depiction of a white falcon in a pine tree. The colors came from blue ink and gradations in light and dark was used to build a contrast.

Nishikie (錦絵) is a type of woodblock print that utilizes many colors in one block. This is an innovative form of woodblock print because previously, woodblock prints were designed with only one or two colors. This woodblock print was made by Suzuki Harunobu (鈴木春信) and depicts a courtesan with her female attendants.