Iron Oxide Red: Ukiyo-e colorant

Naitô Shinjuku, Yotsuya, from the series One Hundred Famous Views of Edo by Utagawa Hiroshige I

Iron oxide red 弁柄 (bengara): A natural colorant derived from hematite, a metallic black-gray or dark red mineral primarily composed of iron oxide or from red ochre, an earth pigment containing hematite, clay, and silica. Red ochre can also be made by roasting yellow ochre. While the type of iron oxide red used in ukiyo-e prints has not been identified, the most likely source is a manufactured iron oxide red. During the Edo period (1603–1868), rōha bengara (ローハベンガラ) and tettan bengara (鉄丹ベンガラ) were manufactured. Rōha bengara was made by roasting Melanterite (rōha or ryokuban 緑礬), an iron sulphate that naturally forms or is artificially produced from an iron sulphide byproduct of copper mining. After the roasting process, it was crushed and levigated to produce fine particles of iron oxide red. Manufactured in Fukiya, it appears to have dominated the market and is known to have been used in porcelain, such as Arita ware and lacquerware. Tettan bengara was made from burning rusted iron scraps and was considered to be of lesser quality than rōha bengara.

Iron oxide red has been the most commonly found brown whether used alone or in mixtures. When printed, it appears dense and opaque. Iron oxide red has been found on early hand-colored to full-color prints throughout the Edo period. The color can range from a bright light red to a deep almost maroon brown.

For additional information see: Hematite, Ferric oxide, Red ochre

Examples of Iron oxide red in Ukiyo-e Prints


Pt 4: Hand colored Okumura Masanobu, 11.13344


Pt 6: Printed Ippitsusai Bunchō, 11.19316


Pt 4: Printed Keisai Eisen, 11.17946


Pt 2: Printed Katsushika Hokusai, 21.6756


Pt 7: Printed Utagawa Kuniyoshi, 11.36360

Analysis

X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF) is used to detect iron (Fe). When it is found in a red/brown area, it is an indication for the presence of iron oxide red (Fe₂O₃).