Printmaking

                                                         What is Printmaking?

Printmaking is making artwork by printings, normally on paper. It usually covers only the process of creating prints that have an element of originality, rather then just being a photographic re-make of a painting.


                                                       Japanese Printmaking

       Printmaking began in the 6th century in China and slowly spread around the world. Japanese woodblock prints are unique in appearance, not just because Japanese artist incorporated printing techniques with traditional painting. They perfected the complicated techniques of colour woodblock prints. Katsushika Hokusai was a Japanese printmaker born on October 31 1760 in Edo (present day Tokyo). He was known for his paintings and ukiyo-e style woodblock printing. At the age of 14 Hokusai apprenticed to a woodcarver until he was 18 years old. At 18 he went to the studio of Katsukawa Shunsho. A year later his name changed for the first time, and he was dubbed Shunro by his master. In the early stages of print making, Katsushika mainly printed actors. Fireworks at Ryoguku Bridge (1790) was one of the many paintings he did after switching to more sceneric prints. Hokusai is well known for his print called The Great Wave Off Kanagwa. Sadly, Katsushiko died on May 10 1849 at the age of 88. Another Japanese printer is Kitagawa Utamaro. He is one of the most highly regarded practitioners of the ukiyo-e genre of woodblock prints. he was born in the year 1753, although the exact date is unknown. He mostly printed female beauties such as The Woman Wiping Sweat in 1798. Utamaro's work reached Europe in the mid-nineteenth century. He influenced them with his use of partial views and emphasis on light and shade. Hamaro died on 31 October 1806.






Hokusai:










Utamaro:

                                                      Spanish Printmaking

         Francisco Goya was a Spanish printmaker and painter. He was born on March 30 1746 in Zargoza. When Goya was 14 he worked as an apprentice to a local painter. At the age of 17, Francisco moved to Madrid and came under the influence of artist and printmaker Giambattista Trepolo. Goya's most known print is There is No One to Help Them (1810). He died on April 16
1828. Jusepe de Ribera was born on January 12 1591 and died on September 2 1652. His hometown
was Xatira, Spain. De Ribera painted things such as faces contorted in pain, mutilated bodies, sagging flesh, bearded women and deformed boys. He apprenticed with a local artist by the name of
Francisco Riba. His most known print is The Matyrdom of St Bartholomew.

Goya:

De Ribera: