Category:Iron Oxide Red: Ukiyo-e colorant

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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 the mineral hematite (ferric oxide), 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 manufactured by roasting yellow ochre. While the type of iron oxide red used in ukiyo-e prints has not been identified, it was most likely manufactured. 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), a naturally occurring iron sulphate or artificially produced from an iron sulfide, a byproduct from copper mining. After the roasting process, it was crushed and levigated to produce fine particles of iron oxide red.

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

11.13344-pt4-detail.png

11.13344-Pt 4 red wood.jpg
Pt 4: Hand colored
Okumura Masanobu, 11.13344

11.19316-pt6-detail.png

11.19316-Pt6-XRF.jpg
Pt 6: Printed
Ippitsusai Bunchō, 11.19316

11.17946-pt4-detail.png

11.17946-Pt 4, brown.jpg
Pt 4: Printed
Keisai Eisen, 11.17946

21.6756-pt2-detail.png

21.6756-Pt1&2-XRF.jpg
Pt 2: Printed
Katsushika Hokusai, 21.6756

11.36360-pt7-detail.png

11.36360-Pt7-XRF.jpg
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).

Images of Iron oxide red

List of Prints

Below is a list of prints where iron oxide red was detected.

Pages in category "Iron Oxide Red: Ukiyo-e colorant"

The following 64 pages are in this category, out of 64 total.

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