Dayflower: Ukiyo-e colorant
Dayflower 青花 (aobana): A blue dye extracted from the petals of Commelina communis var. hortensis (大帽子花 ōbōshibana) better known as aobana. It is cultivated from the Asiatic dayflower (Commelina communis) or tsukusa (露草) to produce a larger petal to yield more dye. The dye is brushed onto Japanese paper, which acts as the vehicle to retain a concentrated dye as well to prevent the oxidation of the dye. The dayflower dyed paper is known as aobanagami (青花紙) or aigami (藍紙). The blue colorant in dayflower is primarily commelinin. In addition to its use as a colorant in Japanese woodblock prints, it was commonly used to draw the underdrawing in yūzen dyeing. Dayflower and dayflower dyed paper was grown and made in the area of Kusatsu and continues to be made there today but only three farmer/producers remain.
Dayflower along with indigo are the two blues used in Japanese woodblock prints before Prussian blue entered the palette in the 1830s. Dayflower can appear bluish gray to greenish yellow to tan depending on its state of preservation. Highly water soluble, dayflower was frequently the last color to be printed. Its solubility also presented a special challenge to the printer since this feature makes it difficult to print uniform and sharply defined edges of design. Despite these challenges, dayflower appears to have been used more often than indigo.
Dayflower is also frequently mixed with a red extracted from safflower to produce a variety of purples. Dayflower with turmeric through mixing or overprinting to produce greens are often found in early prints of two to three colors.
For additional information see: Dayflower, Uemura Dye Archive: Dayflower 269, 270, 271, Commelina communis (Kew)
Examples of Dayflower in Ukiyo-e Prints
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Analysis
Fiber optic reflectance spectroscopy (FORS) can easily identify the three blues: dayflower, indigo, and Prussian blue.
FORS spectrum of Dayflower reference 
FORS spectrum of Indigo reference 
FORS spectrum of Prussian blue reference
Interpretation
- Dayflower produces a unique FORS pattern with a distinct absorption doublet showing minimum points at about 600 and 650 nm.
- The distinct doublet becomes more difficult to see in dark color blue prints due to the strong absorption of light (see Eisen print #11,26691-2 example above)
- The unique pattern has been clearly seen even in light blue and faded dayflower regions
Images of Dayflower
Cultivated dayflower (Commelina communis var. hortensis Makino), by Asiatic Dayflower
Asiatic dayflower (Commelina communis)
Bundle of dayflower dyed paper, by Kusatsu-juku
Dayflower paper and dye extracted from the paper
Paper dyed with dayflower
Printed dayflower
Dayflower paper, by National Museum of American History
Cultivated dayflower (video), by Kyoto Botanical Gardens
List of Prints
Below is a list of prints where dayflower was detected.
Pages in category "Dayflower: Ukiyo-e colorant"
The following 99 pages are in this category, out of 99 total.
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- Harunobu, Beautiful Women of the Yoshiwara, Combing hair (2006.1537.1)
- Harunobu, Courtesan Reading a Letter by Moonlight Reflected on Snow; Parody of Son Kang, 11.19438
- Harunobu, Ebisu and Ofuji, from the series The Seven Gods of Good Fortune in the Modern World, 34.343
- Harunobu, Kojima Bingo no Saburô Takanori, 11.19633
- Harunobu, Parody of the Three Evening Poems: Teika, Jakuren, and Saigyô, 11.19703
- Harunobu, Parody of the Well-curb Episode from Tales of Ise, 11.19459
- Harunobu, The Eleventh Month, from an untitled series of Twelve Months, 11.20120
- Harunobu, The Sake Cup, sheet 4 of the series Marriage in Brocade Prints, the Carriage of the Virtuous Woman, known as the Marriage series, 11.19475
- Harunobu, The Tenth Month, from an untitled series of Twelve Months, 11.20124
- Harunobu, Young Man Playing a Shakuhachi, 21.4677
- Harunobu, Young Woman Tuning a Shamisen, 06.479
- Hokusai, Act IX, from the series The Storehouse of Loyal Retainers, a Primer, 11.17643
- Hokusai, Act VII, from the series The Storehouse of Loyal Retainers, a Primer, 11.17604
- Hokusai, Act X, from the series The Storehouse of Loyal Retainers, a Primer, 11.17583
- Hokusai, Actor Matsumoto Kôshirô IV as Banzui Chôbei, 21.10200
- Hokusai, Actor Sakata Hangorô III as a Traveling Priest, actually Chinzei Hachirô Tametomo, 11.19925
- Hokusai, Actor Sakata Hangorô III as a Traveling Priest, actually Chinzei Hachirô Tametomo, 21.10199
- Hokusai, Actor Segawa Kikunojô III as Sadaka, 06.801
- Hokusai, Actors Ichikawa Monnosuke II as Akaneya Hanshichi and Yamashita Mangiku as Sankatsu, 54.229
- Hokusai, An no Heibei with a Courtesan, from an untitled series of the Five Manly Men, 11.16854
- Hokusai, Ariwara Narihira, from an untitled series of the Six Poetic Immortals formed by the characters for their names, 11.17502
- Hokusai, Bun'ya no Yasuhide, from an untitled series of the Six Poetic Immortals formed by the characters for their names, 11.17501
- Hokusai, Bun'ya no Yasuhide, from an untitled series of the Six Poetic Immortals formed by the characters for their names, 21.10217
- Hokusai, Carp and Iris, 11.20430
- Hokusai, Chiryû, from an untitled series of the Fifty-three Stations of the Tôkaidô Road, 34.303
- Hokusai, Courtesan and Kamuro with Hagoita, 11.20410
- Hokusai, Crossing a Bridge, from the album Men's Stamping Dance, 06.809
- Hokusai, Descending Geese at Asuka, from the series Eight Views of Edo, 06.795
- Hokusai, Evening Bell at Mii-dera Temple, from the series Eight Views of Ômi, a New Edition, 06.796
- Hokusai, Express Delivery Boats Rowing through Waves, from an untitled series of landscapes in Western style, 21.6678
- Hokusai, Fan Kuai and the Banquet at Hongmen, from the series Newly published Perspective Pictures, 11.14710
- Hokusai, Ferry Boat Passing Bridge Pillar, 11.20445
- Hokusai, Fish, Flowers, and Telescope, 11.20408
- Hokusai, Flower Ball and Bamboo Blind, 21.7872
- Hokusai, Hair Ornaments, 11.20418
- Hokusai, Hotei Ichiemon with a Courtesan, from an untitled series of the Five Manly Men, 11.16870
- Hokusai, Kaminari Shôkurô with a Courtesan, from an untitled series of the Five Manly Men, 11.19684
- Hokusai, Kanaya, from an untitled series of the Fifty-three Stations of the Tôkaidô Road, 11.16890
- Hokusai, Lingering Snow for Azuma and Yohei, from the untitled series known as Eight Views of Tragic Lovers, 21.10195
- Hokusai, Lion Dance, from an untitled series of Niwaka festival dances representing the Twelve Months, 11.19934
- Hokusai, Mount Fuji under High Bridge, from an untitled series of landscapes in Western style, 21.6675
- Hokusai, Procession of a Daimyô Passing Shinagawa on the Way to Kyoto, from the series Newly Published Perspective Pictures, 21.10203
- Hokusai, Sunset Glow at Seta, from the series Eight Views of Ômi, a New Edition, 06.797
- Hokusai, The Night Attack in Act XI of Chûshingura, 11.17612
- Hokusai, The Night Attack in Act XI of The Storehouse of Loyal Retainers, 11.17690
- Hokusai, The Night Attack in Act XI of The Storehouse of Loyal Retainers, 11.17691
- Hokusai, The Ninth Month: The Dance of the Chrysanthemum Boy, Performed on a Stage, from an untitled series of Niwaka festival dances representing the Twelve Months, 11.19935
- Hokusai, The Seventh Month: The Bon Festival Dance, from an untitled series of Niwaka festival dances representing the Twelve Months, 11.19932
- Hokusai, The Seventh Month: The Bon Festival Dance, from an untitled series of Niwaka festival dances representing the Twelve Months, 21.10196
- Hokusai, The Sixth Month: Washing the Portable Shrine, from an untitled series of Niwaka festival dances representing the Twelve Months, 11.19931
- Hokusai, The Story of Minamoto Yoshitsune and Jôruri-hime, from the series Perspective Pictures, 11.17572
- Hokusai, Toys: Bird Whistle, Rattle, Boy Doll with Hobbyhorse, 11.20411
- Hokusai, Ushigafuchi at Kudan, from an untitled series of landscapes in Western style, 21.6674
- Hokusai, View of Koshigoe from Shichiri-ga-hama, 34.327
- Hokusai, View of Noboto Beach at Low Tide from the Salt Beds at Gyôtoku, from an untitled series of landscapes in Western style, 21.6676
- Hokusai, Watching Fireworks in the Cool of the Evening at Ryôgoku Bridge, from the series Newly Published Perspective Pictures, 21.10202
- Hokusai, Woman, Child, and Man with Kite, from the series A Collection of Dances, 11.16764
- Hokusai, Women with Theatrical Costumes, from the series A Collection of Dances, 11.19683
- Hokusai, Ôtomo no Kuronushi, from an untitled series of Six Poetic Immortals formed by the characters for their names, 21.10218
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- Kiyomasu II, Actor Ogino Izaburô I as Yamagami Gennai, Acting in the Aragoto Style with the Sumikazura Wig, 11.13297
- Kiyomitsu I, Actor Ichikawa Danzô III as Adachi Hachirô, 11.19030
- Kiyomitsu I, Actor Ichikawa Yaozô I as Soga no Gorô Tokimune, 06.401
- Kiyomitsu I, Actor Segawa Kikunojô II as Itsuki, 11.19020
- Kiyomitsu I, Actors Segawa Kikunojô II as the Courtesan Katsuragi and Ichimura Uzaemon IX as Nagoya Sanza, 45.832
- Kiyomitsu I, Actors Ôtani Hiroji III as Okabe no Rokuyata and Nakamura Sukegorô II as Inomata no Koheiroku, 46.1409
- Kiyomitsu I, Yoritomo's Hunt at the Foot of Mount Fuji, 11.19694
- Kiyonaga, The Brine Maidens, from the series Current Manners in Eastern Brocade, 11.13880
- Kiyonaga, The Brine Maidens, from the series Current Manners in Eastern Brocade, 21.5610
- Kokan, Couple Cooling Off on a Garden Bench, 11.19524
- Komatsuken, Courtesan Parading with Two Kamuro, 11.19711
- Koryusai, Descending Geese at Mimeguri, from the series Fashionable Eight Views of Edo, 11.14627
- Koryusai, Twilight Snow of the Bride, from the series Eight Views of Fashionable Human Relations, 11.19541
- Kunisada, Actor Nakamura Utaemon III as the Monkey Trainer Yojirô, from the series Great Hit Plays, 11.15095
- Kunisada, Actor Sawamura Tanosuke II, from the series Actor Rebuses, 11.42324
- Kuniyoshi, The Ninth Hour: Noon; Woman Playing with Cat, Fishmonger and Dog, from the series Sundial of Modern Tradesmen, 11.15955
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- Sharaku, Actor Osagawa Tsuneyo II as Ippei's Older Sister Osan, 11.14673
- Sharaku, Actor Osagawa Tsuneyo II as Ippei's Older Sister Osan, 11.14674
- Sharaku, Actor Osagawa Tsuneyo II as Ippei's Older Sister Osan, 21.7244
- Shigemasa, Perspective Picture of the Sleeping Dragon Plum in the Plum Garden at Kameido, 11.14977
- Shinsai, Chapters 16–18, from the series The Tale of Genji, 11.21066
- Shinsai, Chapters 25–27, from the series The Tale of Genji, 21.9264
- Shunkō, Actors Ichikawa Danjûrô V as Fukurokuju, Iwai Hanshirô IV as Ryûyô Dôji, and Sawamura Sôjûrô III as Shin'yô Dôji, 11.14971
- Shunkō, Actors Nakamura Nakazô I and Ôtani Hiroji III, 11.2014
- Shunshō, Actor Segawa Kikunojô III as Shirokiya Okoma, from the series Fans of the East, 11.14871
- Shunshō, No. 3, Comparative Poems, from the series Six Types of Waka Poetry as Described in the Preface of the Kokinshû, 11.19295
- Shunshō, No. 6, Cui Zongzhi (Saisôshi), from the series Eight Immortals of The Wine Cup, 11.14847
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- TEST-Utamaro I, Women Overnight Guests, a Triptych, 21.6328-30
- TEST-Utamaro I, Women Overnight Guests, left panel of triptych, 21.6328
- Toyoharu, The Armor-pulling Scene at Wada's Banquet, 11.14704
- Toyoharu, The Armor-pulling Scene at Wada's Banquet, 11.14725
- Toyokuni, Woman Under Maple and Ginkgo Leaves, from the series Comparison of Beauties, 11.13642