View source for Ukiyo-e Print Colorant Database

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[[File:Colorwheel.jpg|link=|245px|right|Colorant Samples]]

'''PLEASE NOTE:: This database is still in a DRAFT state.  We are in the process of adding and correcting information'''

Since 2002, the MFA’s [https://mfa.org/collections/conservation-and-collections-management Asian Conservation Studio and Scientific Research Laboratory] has been conducting research into the colorants used in Japanese woodblock prints, or ''ukiyo-e'' prints from the Edo period (1603–1868). Non-invasive techniques that do not require sampling from the prints have been used: X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), Excitation Emission Matrix (EEM) and Fiber Optic Reflectance (FORS) spectroscopies. 

This Ukiyo-e Print Colorant Database is an effort to begin collating the analytical results of colorants into one location that is accessible to all researchers. It currently focuses on prints from the MFA’s collection from the early 1700s to the mid-1800s. It does not yet cover the whole breadth of colorants used, such as the aniline-based colorants, but we plan to continue to expand the database. Thus far, over 100 prints have been analyzed and the uploading of data is ongoing.<!-- [[More on the data]].

===Colorants===
A list of colorants detected so far in this research. Click to see examples of the printed colors, spectra, and a list of analyzed prints. 
------------------

{| 
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| style="width:300px; text-align:left;" |
<span style="font-size:120%;><b>Blue</b></span>
*[[:Category:Dayflower: Ukiyo-e colorant| Dayflower]]
*[[:Category:Indigo: Ukiyo-e colorant|Indigo]]
*[[:Category:Prussian Blue: Ukiyo-e colorant|Prussian blue]]
<span style="font-size:120%;><b>Red</b></span>
*[[:Category:Safflower: Ukiyo-e colorant|Safflower]]
*[[:Category:Madder: Ukiyo-e colorant|Madder]]
*[[:Category:Sappanwood: Ukiyo-e colorant|Sappanwood]]
*[[:Category:Red lead: Ukiyo-e colorant|Red lead]]
*[[:Category:Vermilion: Ukiyo-e colorant|Vermilion]]
*[[:Category:Other Reds: Ukiyo-e colorant|Others]]

| style="width:300px; text-align:left;" |
<span style="font-size:120%;><b>Yellow</b></span>
*[[:Category:Turmeric: Ukiyo-e colorant|Turmeric]]
*[[:Category:Orpiment: Ukiyo-e colorant|Orpiment]]
*[[:Category:Flavonoids: Ukiyo-e colorant|Flavonoids]]
*[[:Category:Gamboge: Ukiyo-e colorant|Gamboge]]
*[[:Category:Iron Oxide Yellow: Ukiyo-e colorant|Iron oxide yellow]]
<span style="font-size:120%;><b>Brown</b></span>
*[[:Category:Iron Oxide Red: Ukiyo-e colorant|Iron oxide red]]
<!--*[[:Category:Other Browns: Ukiyo-e colorant|Others]]--><!--
<span style="font-size:120%;><b>Purple</b></span>
*[[:Category:Dayflower/Safflower: Ukiyo-e colorant|Dayflower + Safflower]]
*[[:Category:Other Purples: Ukiyo-e colorant|Others]]

| style="width:300px; text-align:left;" |
<span style="font-size:120%;><b>Green</b></span>
*[[:Category:Dayflower/Turmeric: Ukiyo-e colorant|Dayflower + Turmeric]]
*[[:Category:Indigo/Orpiment: Ukiyo-e colorant|Indigo + Orpiment]]
*[[:Category:Prussian Blue/Orpiment: Ukiyo-e colorant|Prussian blue + Orpiment]]
*[[:Category:Other Greens: Ukiyo-e colorant|Others]]
<span style="font-size:120%;><b>Black</b></span>
*[[:Category:Carbon black:Ukiyo-e colorant|Carbon black]]
<span style="font-size:120%;><b>White</b></span>
*[[:Category:Calcium carbonate: Ukiyo-e colorant|Calcium carbonate]]
*[[:Category:Lead white: Ukiyo-e colorant|Lead white]]

| style="width:300px; text-align:left;" |
<span style="font-size:120%;><b>Mica</b></span>
*[[:Category:Mica: Ukiyo-e colorant|Mica]]
<span style="font-size:120%;><b>Metallic</b></span>
*[[:Category:Brass: Ukiyo-e colorant|Brass]]
*[[:Category:Tin: Ukiyo-e colorant|Tin]]
<!--*[[:Category:Copper: Ukiyo-e colorant|Copper]]-->
|}
--><!--
=== By Artist ===
Prints analyzed listed by artist.
------------------
{| 
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| style="width:300px; text-align:left;" |
<span style="font-size:120%;><b>C</b></span>
*[[:Category:Chōbunsai Eishi (鳥文斎栄之) 1756–1829|Chōbunsai Eishi]]

<span style="font-size:120%;><b>H</b></span>
*[[:Category:Hanekawa Chinchō (羽川珍重) 1679–1754|Hanekawa Chinchō]]

<span style="font-size:120%;><b>I</b></span>
*[[:Category:Ippitsusai Bunchō (一筆斎文調) active about 1765–1792|Ippitsusai Bunchō]]
*[[:Category:Ishikawa Toyonobu (石川豊信) 1711–1785|Ishikawa Toyonobu]]
*[[:Category:Isoda Koryusai (礒田湖龍斎) 1735–1790|Isoda Koryusai]]

<span style="font-size:120%;><b>K</b></span>
*[[:Category:Katsukawa Shunkō (勝川春好) 1743–1812|Katsukawa Shunkō]]
*[[:Category:Katsukawa Shunshō (勝川春章) 1726–1792|Katsukawa Shunshō]]
| style="width:300px; text-align:left;" |
*[[:Category:Katsushika Taito II (葛飾戴斗) active about 1810–1853|Katsushika Taito II]]
*[[:Category:Keisai Eisen (渓斎英泉) 1790–1848|Keisai Eisen]]
*[[:Category:Kikukawa Eizan (菊川英山) 1787–1867|Kikukawa Eizan]]
*[[:Category:Kitagawa Utamaro I (喜多川歌麿) early 1750s–1806|Kitagawa Utamaro I]]
*[[:Category:Kitao Shigemasa (北尾重政) 1739–1820|Kitao Shigemasa]]
*[[:Category:Komatsuken (小松軒)|Komatsuken]]
*[[:Category:Kubo Shunman (窪俊満) 1757–1820|Kubo Shunman]]
<!--*[[:Category:Katsushika Hokusai (葛飾北斎) 1760–1849|Katsushika Hokusai]]
*[[Glossary of Ukiyo-e Colorants]]-->
<!--
<span style="font-size:120%;><b>O</b></span>
*[[:Category:Okumura Masanobu (奥村政信) 1686–1764|Okumura Masanobu]]
*[[:Category:Okumura Toshinobu (奥村利信) active about 1717–1750|Okumura Toshinobu]]

<span style="font-size:120%;><b>R</b></span>
*[[:Category:Ryūryūkyo Shinsai (柳々居辰斎) 1764?–1820|Ryūryūkyo Shinsai]]

| style="width:300px; text-align:left;" |
<span style="font-size:120%;><b>S</b></span>
*[[:Category:Suzuki Harunobu (鈴木春信) 1725–1770|Suzuki Harunobu]]

<span style="font-size:120%;><b>T</b></span>
*[[:Category:Torii Kiyohiro (鳥居清広) active 1737–1776|Torii Kiyohiro]]
*[[:Category:Torii Kiyomasu I (鳥居清倍) active about 1696–1716|Torii Kiyomasu I]]
*[[:Category:Torii Kiyomasu II (鳥居清倍) 1706–1763|Torii Kiyomasu II]]
*[[:Category:Torii Kiyomitsu I (鳥居清満) 1735–1785|Torii Kiyomitsu I]]
*[[:Category:Torii Kiyonaga (鳥居清長) 1752–1815|Torii Kiyonaga]]
*[[:Category:Torii Kiyonobu I (鳥居清信) 1664–1729|Torii Kiyonobu I]]
*[[:Category:Torii Kiyotada I (鳥居清忠) active about 1720–1750|Torii Kiyotada I]]
*[[:Category:Tōshūsai Sharaku (東洲斎写楽) active 1794–1795|Tōshūsai Sharaku]]
*[[:Category:Totoya Hokkei (魚屋北渓) 1780–1850|Totoya Hokkei]]

| style="width:300px; text-align:left;" |
<span style="font-size:120%;><b>U</b></span>
*[[:Category:Utagawa Hiroshige I (歌川広重) 1797–1858|Utagawa Hiroshige I]]
*[[:Category:Utagawa Hiroshige II (二代目歌川広重) 1826–1869|Utagawa Hiroshige II]]
*[[:Category:Utagawa Kunisada, Toyokuni III (歌川国貞・三代目歌川豊国) 1786–1864|Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III)]]
*[[:Category:Utagawa Kuniyoshi (歌川国芳) 1797–1861|Utagawa Kuniyoshi]]
*[[:Category:Utagawa Toyosharu (歌川豊春) 1735–1814|Utagawa Toyoharu]]
*[[:Category:Utagawa Toyokuni I (歌川豊国) 1769–1825|Utagawa Toyokuni I]]

<span style="font-size:120%;><b>Y</b></span>
*[[:Category:Yanagawa Shigenobu I (柳川重信) 1787–1832|Yanagawa Shigenobu I]]
|}

<!--
{| 
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| style="width:300px; text-align:left;" |
<span style="font-size:120%;><b>B</b></span>
*[[:Category:Ippitsusai Buncho (一筆斎文調) active about 1765–1792|Buncho, Ippitsusai]]

<span style="font-size:120%;><b>E</b></span>
*[[:Category:Keisai Eisen (渓斎英泉) 1790–1848|Eisen, Keisai]]
*[[:Category:Chobunsai Eishi (鳥文斎栄之) 1756–1829|Eishi, Chobunsai]]
*[[:Category:Kikukawa Eizan (菊川英山) 1787–1867|Eizan, Kikukawa]]

<span style="font-size:120%;><b>H</b></span>
*[[:Category:Utagawa Hiroshige I (歌川広重) 1797–1858|Hiroshige I, Utagawa]]
*[[:Category:Utagawa Hiroshige II (二代目歌川広重) 1826–1869|Hiroshige II, Utagawa]]
*[[:Category:Suzuki Harunobu (鈴木春信) 1725–1770|Harunobu, Suzuki]]
*[[:Category:Totoya Hokkei (魚屋北渓) 1780–1850|Hokkei, Totoya]]
*[[:Category:Katsushika Hokusai (葛飾北斎) 1760–1849|Hokusai, Katsushika]]
*[[Glossary of Ukiyo-e Colorants]]

| style="width:300px; text-align:left;" |
<span style="font-size:120%;><b>K</b></span>
*[[:Category:Torii Kiyohiro (鳥居清広) active 1737–1776|Kiyohiro, Torii]]
*[[:Category:Torii Kiyomasu I (鳥居清倍) active about 1696–1716|Kiyomasu I, Torii]]
*[[:Category:Torii Kiyomasu II (鳥居清倍) 1706–1763|Kiyomasu II, Torii]]
*[[:Category:Torii Kiyomitsu I (鳥居清満) 1735–1785|Kiyomitsu I, Torii]]
*[[:Category:Torii Kiyonaga (鳥居清長) 1752–1815|Kiyonaga, Torii]]
*[[:Category:Torii Kiyotada I (鳥居清忠) active about 1720–1750|Kiyotada I, Torii]]
*[[:Category:Komatsuken (小松軒)|Komatsuken]]
*[[:Category:Isoda Koryusai (礒田湖龍斎) 1735–1790|Koryusai, Isoda]]
*[[:Category:Utagawa Kunisada, Toyokuni III (歌川国貞・三代目歌川豊国) 1786–1864|Kunisada, Utagawa (Toyokuni III)]]
*[[:Category:Utagawa Kuniyoshi (歌川国芳) 1797–1861|Kuniyoshi, Utagawa]]

| style="width:300px; text-align:left;" |
<span style="font-size:120%;><b>M</b></span>
*[[:Category:Okumura Masanobu (奥村政信) 1686–1764|Masanobu, Okumura]]

<span style="font-size:120%;><b>S</b></span>
*[[:Category:Toshusai Sharaku (東洲斎写楽) active 1794–1795|Sharaku, Toshusai]]
*[[:Category:Kitao Shigemasa (北尾重政) 1739–1820|Shigemasa, Kitao]]
*[[:Category:Yanagawa Shigenobu I (柳川重信) 1787–1832|Shigenobu I, Yanagawa]]
*[[:Category:Ryuryukyo Shinsai (柳々居辰斎) 1764?–1820|Shinsai, Ryuryukyo]]
*[[:Category:Katsukawa Shunko (勝川春好) 1743–1812|Shunko, Katsukawa]]
*[[:Category:Kubo Shunman (窪俊満) 1757–1820|Shunman, Kubo]]
*[[:Category:Katsukawa Shunsho (勝川春章) 1726–1792|Shunsho, Katsukawa]]

| style="width:300px; text-align:left;" |
<span style="font-size:120%;><b>T</b></span>
*[[:Category:Katsushika Taito II (葛飾戴斗) active about 1810–1853|Taito II, Katsushika]]
*[[:Category:Okumura Toshinobu (奥村利信) active about 1717–1750|Toshinobu, Okumura]]
*[[:Category:Utagawa Toyoharu (歌川豊春) 1735–1814|Toyoharu, Utagawa]]
*[[:Category:Utagawa Toyokuni I (歌川豊国) 1769–1825|Toyokuni I, Utagawa]]
*[[:Category:Ishikawa Toyonobu (石川豊信) 1711–1785|Toyonobu, Ishikawa]]


<span style="font-size:120%;><b>U</b></span>
*[[:Category:Kitagawa Utamaro I (喜多川歌麿) early 1750s–1806|Utamaro I, Kitagawa]]
|}
-->
-->
=== Bibliography===
[[Bibliography|'''A list of publications and resources''']]  on the identification of colorants in Japanese woodblock prints.

=== About the Collection ===

[[File:SC206467.jpg|500px|right|link=https://collections.mfa.org/objects/497727|Woodblock Printer, Print Shop, Distributing New Prints by Kitagawa Utamaro]]

The MFA has over 50,000 Japanese prints and approximately 3,000 titles of illustrated books covering the Edo period (1603–1868) to the present. The Japanese woodblock print collection spans the Edo period from its birth to color printing to its height as a commercial product and to its end in the Meiji period (1868–1912). This collection represents not only the breadth of artists working at the time but also multiple impressions and editions, making it a comprehensive resource for scholarship, research, and teaching. Collections from prominent Bostonians such as William Sturgis Bigelow, Denman Ross, and the Spaulding brothers at the turn of the century form the basis of the collection. Furthermore, the [https://collections.mfa.org/search/Objects/creditline%3AWilliam%20S.%20and%20John%20T.%20Spaulding%20Collection/*/images?page=1&sort=displayDate-asc William S. and John T. Spaulding Collection], which is comprised of over 6,000 prints, is available to researchers and educators as an important study collection. Because the Spaulding Collection is not exhibited, these prints generally display remarkable preservation of the colorants making it a valuable benchmark for the study of color and palette.

==== Acknowledgement ====
The colorant research comes out of a long collaboration between the Asian Conservation Studio and Scientific Research Laboratory. We would like to thank the many volunteers who contributed to this research. We are also grateful to Richard and JoAnn Pinkowitz for donating to this database project which allowed us to bring the Ukiyo-e Print Colorant Database online.

[[Category: Reference Collections]]