Dayflower/Turmeric: Ukiyo-e colorant

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Actor Ichikawa Danzô III as Adachi Hachirô by Torii Kiyomitsu I

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. 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. After the development of full color printing, the dayflower + turmeric mixture was largely supplanted by indigo + orpiment, which became the dominate formulation for green.

For additional information see: Dayflower, Turmeric


Examples of Dayflower + Turmeric in Ukiyo-e Prints

46.1409-pt6-detail.png

46.1409-Pt 6 FORS green.jpg
46.1409-Pt6-EEM.jpg
Pt 6: Printed
Torii Kiyomitsu I, 46.1409

11.19931-pt6.png

11.19931 pt 6 FORS.png
11.19931 pt 6 EEM.png
Pt 6
Katsushika Hokusai, 11.19931

21.9257-pt3.png

21.9257 pt3 FORS.png
Nearby red also appears in FORS
Pt 3
Torii Kiyomasu II, 58.343

34.333-pt2.png

34.333 pt2 FORS.png
34.333 pt2 EEM.png
Pt 4
Ippitsusai Bunchô, 34.333

Analysis

Fiber optic reflectance spectroscopy (FORS) is used to identify dayflower and Excitation Emission Matrix (EEM) spectroscopy is used to identify turmeric. For more information, please see the individual colorant pages, dayflower and turmeric.

Images of Dayflower + Turmeric

List of Prints

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