Dayflower/Turmeric: Ukiyo-e colorant

Dayflower + Turmeric: Green is achieved by overprinting or mixing a blue and a yellow colorant. Dayflower printed over turmeric was typically used on early prints of two to three colors. On prints the appearance of green produced by overprinting turmeric with dayflower can change upon exposure to moisture or fading. The highly water soluble dayflower can move towards the back of the paper support to reveal the yellow turmeric. Turmeric is also highly susceptible to fading and in some cases the green produced by the combination of these two colors can appear tan. Later, the dayflower+turmeric mixture was largely supplanted by indigo+orpiment which becomes the dominate formulation for green.

For more information see: Dayflower, Turmeric

Examples of Dayflower+Turmeric in Ukiyo-e Prints

Beauties of the Yoshiwara by Suzuki Harunobu

Beauties of the Yoshiwara by Suzuki Harunobu

Beauties of the Yoshiwara by Suzuki Harunobu

Beauties of the Yoshiwara by Suzuki Harunobu

Beauties of the Yoshiwara by Suzuki Harunobu

Analysis

Fiber optic reflectance spectroscopy (FORS) is used to identify dayflower and Excitation Emission Matrix (EEM) spectroscopy turmeric.

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  3D EEM plot for Turmeric
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  3D EEM plots for Yellow references

List of Prints

Below is a list of prints where dayflower + turmeric was detected.