Prussian Blue/Orpiment: Ukiyo-e colorant

Prussian blue + Orpiment: Green is achieved by mixing or overprinting a blue and a yellow colorant. By altering the proportions of each, a wide variation of greens could be obtained. While the most frequently found green is indigo + orpiment, Prussian blue + orpiment is found after the introduction of Prussian blue into the palette of ukiyo-e prints in the 1830s.

For additional information see: Prussian blue, Orpiment

Examples of Prussian blue + Orpiment in Ukiyo-e Prints

Pt 3: Printed Katsushika Hokusai, 21.6756

Pt 3: Printed Utagawa Kuniyoshi, 11.36360

Pt 5: Printed Utagawa Kunisada, 11.42663

Pt 5: Printed Utagawa Hiroshige I, 11.35823

Pt 3: Printed Utagawa Hiroshige I/II, 11.35842

Pt 5: Printed Keisai Eisen, 11.17904

Analysis

Fiber optic reflectance spectroscopy (FORS) is used to identify Prussian blue and X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF) is used to detect arsenic (As) and sulfur (S), which is an indication of the presence of orpiment (As₂S₃). For more information, please see the individual colorant pages, Prussian blue and orpiment.

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  FORS spectrum of Prussian blue reference
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  XRF spectrum of Orpiment

List of Prints

Below is a list of prints where Prussian blue + orpiment was detected.