Red lead: Ukiyo-e colorant

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Child Prodigy Minamoto... by Torii Kiyonaga

Red lead 鉛丹 (entan): The common name for a heavy, opaque, orange-red pigment composed of Lead tetroxide. Although chemically equivalent to the mineral minium, red lead has been made by roasting lead white (480 °C) since before the 5th century BCE.

From early hand-colored prints to nishiki-e (錦絵) or full-color prints, red lead was continously used as a color for ukiyo-e prints. It can appear as a light pink, reddish orange or dark reddish brown color. The light pink color, often seen in wooden architectural elements is most likely a mixture of red lead and lead white. Like lead white, red lead can darken when exposed to Hydrogen sulfide. It is thought that in some cases red lead was intentionally darkened to form a dark gray metallic sheen or patina. In order to create this effect, Acetic acid was likely applied to the printed area of red lead and then exposed to hydrogen sulfide, mostly in the form of rotten eggs.

For additional information see: Red lead

Examples of Red lead in Ukiyo-e Prints

28.198-pt1-detail.png

28198-Pt1-XRF.jpg
Pt 1: Hand colored
Torii Kiyomasu I, 28.198

06.401-pt1-detail.png

06401-Pt1-XRF.jpg
Pt 1: Printed
Torii Kiyomitsu I, 06.401

54.1499-pt1-detail.png

541499-Pt1-XRF.jpg
Pt 1: Printed
Torii Kiyomasu II, 54.1499

11.14627-pt5-detail.png

1114627-Pt5-XRF.jpg
Pt 5: Printed
Isoda Koryusai, 11.14627

11.14977-pt2-detail.png

Indigo FORS.JPG
Pt 2: Printed
Kitao Shigemasa, 11.14977

Dyed indigo.jpg

Indigo FORS.JPG
Pt 11: Printed
Utagawa Kuniyoshi, 11.15955

Analysis

X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF) is used to detect lead (Pb), which in a red or pink area, is an indication for the presence of red lead (Pb3O4).

Images of Red lead

List of Prints

Below is a list of prints where red lead was detected.

Pages in category "Red lead: Ukiyo-e colorant"

The following 23 pages are in this category, out of 23 total.