Indigo: Ukiyo-e colorant

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The Song Evening Mist at Asama Peak by Keisai Eisen

Indigo 藍 (ai): A natural dark blue dye obtained from Indigofera tinctoria plants native to India, Java, Peru, and other tropical areas. The use of indigo was first mentioned in Indian manuscripts in the 4th century BCE. In Japan, indigo was introduced from China in the 6th century CE. The dye is obtained from an indigo plant native to Asia, Persicaria tinctoria (蓼藍 tadeai). The colorant can also be extracted from indigo dyed cloth or fibers according to Hokusai's illustrated treatise, Ehon saishikitsū (画本彩色通). Indian indigo began to be imported around the end of the Edo period (1603–1868).

Indigo and dayflower are the two blues used in Japanese woodblock prints until Prussian blue enters the palette in the 1830s. Indigo appears most frequently from the 1740s onwards as a color mixed with orpiment to produce a variety of greens. As a single colorant, it appears as a comparatively dull blue color. Due to its poor tinting strength, a relatively large amount needs to be used during printing in order to obtain a good saturation of this color. Its texture is somewhat coarse which makes it difficult to execute graduated hues from dark to light.

Indigo and orpiment are mixed or overprinted to create a green. This mixture is the most commonly seen combination to create a green.

For additional information see: Indigo, Uemura Dye Archive: Indigo 272, 274, 275, Persicaria tinctoria (Kew)

Examples of Indigo in Ukiyo-e Prints

11.19657-pt6-detail.png

Indigo FORS.JPG
Pt 6: Printed
Katsushika Hokusai, 11.19657

Dyed indigo.jpg

1115216-Pt7-FORS.jpg
Pt 7: Printed
Utagawa Kunisada, 11.15216

11.25669-pt9-detail.png

11.25669 Pt 9 FORS 2016.jpg
Pt 9: Printed
Keisai Eisen, 11.25669

11.17878-pt1-detail.png

Indigo FORS.JPG
Pt 1: Printed
Keisai Eisen, 11.17878

Analysis

Fiber optic reflectance spectroscopy (FORS) can easily identify the three blues: dayflower, indigo, and Prussian blue.

Images of Indigo

List of Prints

Below is a list of prints where indigo was detected.

Pages in category "Indigo: Ukiyo-e colorant"

The following 15 pages are in this category, out of 15 total.