What are Japanese woodblock prints?

Japanese woodblock prints, which date back to the 8th century and are also known as ukiyo-e, are a traditional art form originally produced only in Buddhist monasteries to produce religious texts and images. In the 17th century, private studios began opening as woodblock prints became popular. To make a woodblock print, the artist creates a design on paper, and a wood carver places it on the block and carves the design. Each color requires its own woodblock, which are then covered with watercolors and printed on rice paper. On 1stDibs, find a variety of Japanese woodblock prints from top sellers around the world.

Are Japanese woodblock prints valuable?

Yes, some Japanese woodblock prints are valuable. Prices vary greatly, with some selling for hundreds of dollars and others fetching selling prices of over a million at auction. Makers have a big influence on the price, with prints from masters like Hiroshige, Hokusai and Kitagawa Utamaro often having the greatest value. Other things that determine how much woodblock prints are worth include the quality of the image, the condition of the print, its age, its rarity and the demand among collectors. An expert appraiser or dealer can give you an estimate of the value of a particular print. Explore a selection of Japanese woodblock prints on 1stDibs.

How do I identify Japanese woodblock prints?

To identify Japanese woodblock prints, try using the website Ukiyo-e Search. Simply snap a photo of your print and upload it to the site, which will then compare the image to its database of thousands of prints and quickly display the results. If you have difficulty identifying your print, use the services of a certified appraiser or knowledgeable art dealer who has experience with Japanese art. Shop a large selection of Japanese woodblock prints on 1stDibs.

How can you tell if a woodblock print is real?

To tell if a woodblock print is real, turn it over. Due to the processes used to produce woodblock prints, it is usually possible to see the ink bleeding through on the reverse side of an original print. Reproductions will not have this characteristic since they are made by machine. If you're still uncertain whether your print is an original, experts recommend consulting a certified appraiser or experienced art dealer, as it can be very difficult to tell a convincing reprint apart from a real woodblock without proper training. Find a wide variety of woodblock prints on 1stDibs.

Woodblock Print

Japanese Mid Century Woodblock

Meiji Woodblock

Woodblock Japan

Midcentury Modern Prints

Japanese Artists

Edo Japan Print

Kabuki Art

Framed 19th Century Prints

Japanese Edo 19th Century Signed Utagawa Kuniyoshi Diptych Woodblock Print

$2,175

Japanese Edo 19th Century Signed Utagawa Kuniyoshi Diptych Woodblock Print

Located in Yonkers, NY

An antique Japanese Edo period diptych woodblock print from the early to mid 19th century, signed by Utagawa Kuniyoshi.

Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Edo Prints

Materials

Glass, Paint, Paper

Framed Japanese Woodblock Print Yoshida Hiroshi Three Little Islands

$5,000

Framed Japanese Woodblock Print Yoshida Hiroshi Three Little Islands

By Hiroshi Yoshida

Located in Atlanta, GA

A beautiful Japanese woodblock print by Yoshida Hiroshi (1876-1950), entitled "Seto Sea; Three Little Islands", a work that belongs to The Inland Sea, second series.

Category

Vintage 1930s Japanese Showa Prints

Materials

Paper, Wood

Kōbeya — traditional woodblock print by Katsuyuki Nishijima 1994

$1,116

Kōbeya — traditional woodblock print by Katsuyuki Nishijima 1994

Located in Weesp, NL

Kōbeya — Traditional Merchant Shop, Kobe Sōsaku-Hanga Woodblock Print by Katsuyuki Nishijima, Ed. 265/500 A quietly mesmerizing scene of old Japan — this woodblock print by celebra...

Category

1990s Japanese Modern Prints

Materials

Wood, Paper

1859 Japanese Woodblock Print by Utagawa Kunisada

$595

1859 Japanese Woodblock Print by Utagawa Kunisada

Located in Chapel Hill, NC

Japanese Woodblock Print by Utagawa Kunisada, 1859, entitled "Otokodate Harukoma no Yoshiro".

Category

Antique 1850s Japanese Edo Prints

Materials

Paper

Antique Japanese Woodblock Print by Utagawa Yoshitora, 一猛齋芳虎

$1,450

Antique Japanese Woodblock Print by Utagawa Yoshitora, 一猛齋芳虎

Located in Norton, MA

Antique Japanese woodblock print by Utagawa Yoshitora 一猛齋芳虎 (1836~1880) depicting a night scene with a courtesan, Framed with glass.

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Japanese Prints

Materials

Paper

Penelope EllisHorse by the Barn, woodblock print by Penelope Ellis

$391

Horse by the Barn, woodblock print by Penelope Ellis

By Penelope Ellis

Located in London, GB

Penelope Ellis (1935-2016) Horse by the Barn Woodblock print 11 x 16 cm Provenance: From the artist's estate sale.

Category

1950s Folk Art Animal Prints

Materials

Woodcut

Penelope EllisHeading out to Pasture, woodblock print by Penelope Ellis

$391

Heading out to Pasture, woodblock print by Penelope Ellis

By Penelope Ellis

Located in London, GB

Penelope Ellis (1935-2016) Heading out to Pasture Woodblock print 11 x 16 cm Provenance: From the artist's estate sale.

Category

1950s Folk Art Animal Prints

Materials

Woodcut

Penelope EllisPeeking Inside the Barn, woodblock print by Penelope Ellis

$391

Peeking Inside the Barn, woodblock print by Penelope Ellis

By Penelope Ellis

Located in London, GB

Penelope Ellis (1935-2016) Peeking inside the barn Woodblock print 15 x 11 cm Provenance: From the artist's estate sale.

Category

1950s Folk Art Animal Prints

Materials

Woodcut

Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III) Signed Japanese Edo Triptych Woodblock Print

$995

Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III) Signed Japanese Edo Triptych Woodblock Print

By Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III), Utagawa Kunisada III

Located in Studio City, CA

A beautiful, richly colored Japanese triptych woodblock print by famed Japanese Edp Period artist Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III) (1786-1864).

Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Edo Prints

Materials

Paper

Antique Framed Japanese Shunga Woodblock Print of a Man and a Woman Making Love

$1,375

Antique Framed Japanese Shunga Woodblock Print of a Man and a Woman Making Love

Located in Yonkers, NY

An antique Japanese Shunga woodblock print in gilt frame depicting a man and a woman making love.

Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Prints

Materials

Glass, Wood, Paint

Konishi Hirosada'Kurofune' — Edo period Japanese Woodblock Print Triptych, 1851

$750

'Kurofune' — Edo period Japanese Woodblock Print Triptych

Located in Myrtle Beach, SC

Konishi Hirosada, 'Kurofune' (Kabuki scene), color woodblock print, Kamigata chūban triptych, 1851. Signed in black ink in each panel.

Category

Mid-19th Century Edo Figurative Prints

Materials

Woodcut

Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Antique Woodblock Print, Actor Series, Japan, circa 1847

$2,500

Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Antique Woodblock Print, Actor Series, Japan, circa 1847

By Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Located in Chatham, ON

UTAGAWA KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861) - Antique woodblock print - from the actor series - third print only (part of a triptych) - contained in a vintage matte - unframed - Japan - circa 1847...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Japanese Edo Prints

Materials

Paper

Parrot Tulip Woodblock Print by Tanigami Kōnan

$1,200

Parrot Tulip Woodblock Print by Tanigami Kōnan

Located in San Francisco, CA

Original woodblock print by Tanigami Kōnan from *Seiyō Sōka Zufu* (Pictorial Album of Western Plants and Flowers), published by Unsōdō, Kyoto, 1917.

Category

Vintage 1910s Japanese Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Wood, Paper

Antique 19th Century Japanese Woodblock Print By Keisai Eisen (1790 -1848)

$2,365

Antique 19th Century Japanese Woodblock Print By Keisai Eisen (1790 -1848)

By Artistics

Located in London, GB

Antique 19th Century Japanese Framed Woodblock Print By Keisai Eisen 'A beauty Reading A Letter' Keisai Eisen (1790–1848) was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist who specialised in bijin-ga ...

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Japanese Prints

Materials

Paper

1935 Calendar Japanese Woodblock Print Collection Sakai Hoitsu Pre-War Japan

$795

1935 Calendar Japanese Woodblock Print Collection Sakai Hoitsu Pre-War Japan

By Kawase Hasui 1

Located in Hyattsville, MD

Traditional Ukiyo-e or Shin-Hanga inspired woodblock print design. Sunday-to-Saturday format starting on Tuesday, January 1st.

Category

Vintage 1930s Japanese Arts and Crafts Prints

Materials

Paper

Japanese Art Shiro Kasamatsu Woodblock print [Snow at Hongo Akamon]

$800

Japanese Art Shiro Kasamatsu Woodblock print [Snow at Hongo Akamon]

Located in Niiza, JP

Print size: 360 x 235 mm Sheet size: 400 x 260 mm Frame size: 530 x 390 mm 1650 g Packing estimate size: 630 x 440 x 60 mm 3 kg This woodblock print is by Kasamatsu Shiro, one of...

Category

20th Century Japanese Prints

Materials

Paper

Original KAWASE HASUI "Mount Fuji Sailboat" Postcard-Sized Woodblock Print

$2,500

Original KAWASE HASUI "Mount Fuji Sailboat" Postcard-Sized Woodblock Print

Located in Norton, MA

Japanese Woodblock, printed in the Postcard-sized during the 1930s, this antique Japanese Woodblock is by Kawase Hasui (1883-1957) with stamp and is titled “Mount Fuji and Sailboat.”

Category

Vintage 1930s Japanese Showa Prints

Materials

Paper

Rare Japanese Coloured Woodblock Print by Shiro Katamatsu 1950

$1,283

Rare Japanese Coloured Woodblock Print by Shiro Katamatsu 1950

By Shiro Kasamatsu

Located in Kingsbridge, GB

An atmospheric Japanese woodblock print by Shiro Kasamatsu (1898-1991). Entitled "'Yudanaka Hot Springs', The night time setting amplifies the light from inside the buildings and t...

Category

Vintage 1950s Japanese Showa Prints

Materials

Paper

Suzuki HarunobuKabuki Actor in Blue Kimono - Original Woodblock Print, 1700's

$1,350

Kabuki Actor in Blue Kimono - Original Woodblock Print

By Suzuki Harunobu

Located in Soquel, CA

Kabuki Actor in Blue Kimono - Original Woodblock Print Original woodblock print depicting a Kabuki actor in a blue kimono by Suzuki Harunobu (Japanese, 1725-1770).

Category

1760s Edo Figurative Prints

Materials

Ink, Rice Paper, Woodcut

Antique Japanese Erotic Shunga Woodblock Print of a Couple in Gilt Frame

$1,375

Antique Japanese Erotic Shunga Woodblock Print of a Couple in Gilt Frame

Located in Yonkers, NY

An antique Japanese Shunga woodblock print in gilt frame depicting a man and a woman making love.

Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Prints

Materials

Glass, Wood

Antique Woodblock Print Meiji Period, 19th Century

$396

Antique Woodblock Print Meiji Period, 19th Century

Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland

Antique 19th c Woodblock Print - Meiji Period 19th century, The painter is unknown so far.

Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Meiji Decorative Bowls

Materials

Paper

Antique Japanese Woodblock Print with Figures by Kunisada, Framed, C1920

$440Sale Price|20% Off

Antique Japanese Woodblock Print with Figures by Kunisada, Framed, C1920

Located in Big Flats, NY

This framed antique Japanese woodblock print by Utagawa Kunisada, a prominent 19th-century ukiyo-e artist, features figures in a traditional setting.

Category

Early 20th Century Asian Prints

Materials

Paper

Ryusai Shigeharu, 'Matsumoto Kinsho II', Woodblock Print, Japan, Circa 1840

$1,500

Ryusai Shigeharu, 'Matsumoto Kinsho II', Woodblock Print, Japan, Circa 1840

Located in Chatham, ON

1802–1853) - 'Matsumoto Kinsho II' (Japanese Kabuki Actor) - Antique woodblock print - single print (not part of a series) - signatures or remarks hand written on the back of the pri...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Japanese Prints

Materials

Paper

Penelope EllisWallowing in the Mud, woodblock print by Penelope Ellis

$391

Wallowing in the Mud, woodblock print by Penelope Ellis

By Penelope Ellis

Located in London, GB

Penelope Ellis (1935-2016) Wallowing in the Mud Woodblock print 15 x 11 cm Provenance: From the artist's estate sale.

Category

1950s Folk Art Animal Prints

Materials

Woodcut

Utagawa Kunisada IIIUtagawa Kunisada III (1848-1920) Ukiyo-E Woodblock Print "Portrait Of Samurai"

$450

Utagawa Kunisada III (1848-1920) Ukiyo-E Woodblock Print "Portrait Of Samurai"

By Utagawa Kunisada III

Located in New York, NY

Title: Portrait Of Samurai Medium: Woodblock Print Style: Ukiyo-e Size: 13 1/2"" x 9 1/2"" Frame Size: 18 1/2"" x 14 1/2"" Signature: Kunisada Provenance: Collection from E...

Category

Early 20th Century Other Art Style Portrait Prints

Materials

Washi Paper, Woodcut

Antique Figural Woodblock Print, Japanese Art, Framed, Meiji, Yoshu Chikanobu

$1,079

Antique Figural Woodblock Print, Japanese Art, Framed, Meiji, Yoshu Chikanobu

Located in Hele, Devon, GB

This is an antique figural woodblock print. A Japanese, framed picture in the manner of Chikanobu, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1900 and later.

Category

Antique Early 1900s Japanese Meiji Prints

Materials

Glass, Paper

19th Century Impression of Woodblock Print by Utagawa Kunisada

$1,200

19th Century Impression of Woodblock Print by Utagawa Kunisada

By Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III)

Located in Dallas, TX

A 19th century impression of a woodblock print by Utagawa Kunisada, also known as Utagawa Toyokuni III.

Category

Antique 19th Century Prints

"Dancers in Unison, " Richly-Colored, Art Deco Woodblock Print by Woman Artist

$1,400Sale Price|20% Off

"Dancers in Unison, " Richly-Colored, Art Deco Woodblock Print by Woman Artist

Located in Philadelphia, PA

The artist was Loreen Wingerd, a Hoosier artist whose work was shown in the Indianapolis Museum of Art's "Painting and Woodblock Prints" exhibition in 1933. This print may have been ...

Category

Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Prints

Materials

Paper

Masao Ido "Gokashō" limited edition Japanese woodblock print 1987

$1,460

Masao Ido "Gokashō" limited edition Japanese woodblock print 1987

Located in Weesp, NL

Masao Ido (1945–2016) – "Gokashō" - 1987 Limited Edition Japanese Woodblock Print No. 94/150 with Artist’s Seal and Original Japanese Frame A rare and highly decorative original Ja...

Category

Vintage 1980s Japanese Modern Prints

Materials

Acrylic, Wood, Paper

Japanese Woodblock Print by Keisai Eisen 渓斎英泉

$1,245

Japanese Woodblock Print by Keisai Eisen 渓斎英泉

Located in Norton, MA

Japanese Woodblock Print by Keisai Eisen ?? ?? (1790~1848), original and unframed.

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Japanese Prints

Materials

Paper

Antique Woodblock Print - Utagawa Kunisada The Tale Of Genji - Chapter 12

$476

Antique Woodblock Print - Utagawa Kunisada The Tale Of Genji - Chapter 12

By Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III)

Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland

Antique Woodblock Print Ukiyo-e Kunisada UTAGAWA (1786-1865) - “Utagawa Kunisada The Tale of Genji - Chapter 12.

Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Prints

Materials

Paper

Vintage Japanese Woodblock Print

$1,250

Vintage Japanese Woodblock Print

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Exuding serene elegance, this vintage Japanese woodblock print features a captivating depiction of a gracefully seated woman rendered in a striking palette of deep black and vibrant ...

Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Anglo-Japanese Paintings

Materials

Wood, Paint, Glass

Japanese Large Woodblock Print Backstage by Ito Shinsui

$7,800

Japanese Large Woodblock Print Backstage by Ito Shinsui

Located in Atlanta, GA

A rare Japanese Woodblock print by Itō Shinsui (1898-1972) entitled Backstage (or Gakuya 楽屋 in Japanese).

Category

Vintage 1950s Japanese Modern Prints

Materials

Wood, Paper

Clifton Karhu Signed Limited Edition Japanese Woodblock Print "Kamigano"

$2,495

Clifton Karhu Signed Limited Edition Japanese Woodblock Print "Kamigano"

By Clifton Karhu

Located in Studio City, CA

A beautiful, large woodblock print by American master printmaker Clifton Karhu who lived in Japan for over 50 years.

Category

20th Century Japanese Showa Prints

Materials

Paper

Modern Japanese woodblock print 'Yooshoku' (evening colors) by Nishijima Katsuyu

$544

Modern Japanese woodblock print 'Yooshoku' (evening colors) by Nishijima Katsuyu

Located in Weesp, NL

Nishijima Katsuyuki “Yooshoku (Evening Colors)” Japanese Woodblock Print This elegant Japanese woodblock print, Yooshoku (Evening Colors), captures the quiet poetry of dusk settli...

Category

2010s Japanese Japonisme Prints

Materials

Paper

Antique Japanese Woodblock Print by Sadatora, Exterior Genre Scene, C1920

$440Sale Price|20% Off

Antique Japanese Woodblock Print by Sadatora, Exterior Genre Scene, C1920

Located in Big Flats, NY

This antique Japanese woodblock print by Sadatora depicts an exterior genre scene, likely from the early 20th century, around 1920.

Category

Early 20th Century Asian Prints

Materials

Paper

Torii KiyonagaBeauties under a Maple Tree Japanese Woodblock Print, 1784

$900

Beauties under a Maple Tree Japanese Woodblock Print

By Torii Kiyonaga

Located in Houston, TX

Three Beauties under a maple tree from the series "A Contest of Fashionable Beauties of the Gay Quarters". The woodblock print is printed on rice paper. The print is not framed.

Category

1780s Edo Figurative Prints

Materials

Woodcut

Katsushika Hokusai Japanese Woodblock Print Shichiri Beach in Sagami Province

$395

Katsushika Hokusai Japanese Woodblock Print Shichiri Beach in Sagami Province

By Katsushika Hokusai

Located in Studio City, CA

A beautiful and quite colorful Japanese woodblock print by renowned artist/printmaker Katsushika Hokusai titled "Shichiri Beach in Sagami Province" from his series Thirty-six Views o...

Category

20th Century Japanese Showa Prints

Materials

Paper

Mount Fuji Traditional Japanese Woodblock Print 46/50

$566

Mount Fuji Traditional Japanese Woodblock Print 46/50

Located in Weesp, NL

Sugano is relatively scarce in major print-catalogue databases, the work is listed in specialty vintage and Asian art listings (e.g. as “Mount Fuji Traditional Japanese Woodblock Pri...

Category

Vintage 1980s Japanese Modern Prints

Materials

Glass, Wood, Paper

Mizin ShinContemporary Woodblock Print Black and White Figurative Mizin Shin Korean Artist, 2019

$600

Contemporary Woodblock Print Black and White Figurative Mizin Shin Korean Artist

By Mizin Shin

Located in Buffalo, NY

An original woodblock print by artist Mizin Shin. This piece is framed in a simple black wood frame presentation.

Category

2010s Contemporary Figurative Prints

Materials

Woodcut

Mizin ShinContemporary Woodblock Print Black and White Figurative Mizin Shin Korean Artist, 2019

$600

Contemporary Woodblock Print Black and White Figurative Mizin Shin Korean Artist

By Mizin Shin

Located in Buffalo, NY

An original woodblock print by artist Mizin Shin. This piece is framed in a simple black wood frame presentation.

Category

2010s Contemporary Figurative Prints

Materials

Woodcut

Mizin ShinContemporary Woodblock Print Black and White Figurative Mizin Shin Korean Artist, 2019

$600

Contemporary Woodblock Print Black and White Figurative Mizin Shin Korean Artist

By Mizin Shin

Located in Buffalo, NY

An original woodblock print by artist Mizin Shin. This piece is framed in a simple black wood frame presentation.

Category

2010s Contemporary Figurative Prints

Materials

Woodcut

Mizin ShinContemporary Woodblock Print Black and White Figurative Mizin Shin Korean Artist, 2019

$600

Contemporary Woodblock Print Black and White Figurative Mizin Shin Korean Artist

By Mizin Shin

Located in Buffalo, NY

An original woodblock print by artist Mizin Shin. This piece is framed in a simple black wood frame presentation.

Category

2010s Contemporary Figurative Prints

Materials

Woodcut

Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III)Women in Blue Kimono Playing Stringed Shamisen, Antique Japanese Woodblock Print, 1840-1860

$1,200

Women in Blue Kimono Playing Stringed Shamisen, Antique Japanese Woodblock Print

By Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III)

Located in Austin, TX

This exquisite ukiyo-e woodblock print by Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III) captures a quiet, contemplative moment of artistic devotion.

Category

19th Century Edo Figurative Prints

Materials

Woodcut

Janet P WheelerAutumn Trees Close Up - Woodblock Print on Paper #12/15, late 20th Century

$450

Autumn Trees Close Up - Woodblock Print on Paper #12/15

By Janet P Wheeler

Located in Soquel, CA

Autumn Trees Close Up - Woodblock Print on Paper #12/15 Abstracted landscape detail woodblock by Janet Wheeler (American, 1922-2001).

Category

Late 20th Century American Impressionist Landscape Prints

Materials

Paper, Ink, Woodcut

Early 20th Century Japanese Woodblock Print in Frame

$245

Early 20th Century Japanese Woodblock Print in Frame

Located in Chapel Hill, NC

Early 20th century Japanese woodblock print in frame. Unsigned. From a series depicting the night attack and flight of Emperor Go-Shirakawa from the Sanjo Palace to escape the Minamo...

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Prints

Materials

Paper

Katsuyuki Nishijima — “Yuki Dayori” (Snowing) — Sōsaku-hanga woodblock print

$544

Katsuyuki Nishijima — “Yuki Dayori” (Snowing) — Sōsaku-hanga woodblock print

Located in Weesp, NL

Katsuyuki Nishijima — “Yuki Dayori” (Snowing) — Sōsaku-hanga woodblock print, Kyoto street scene in winter, 1990s A haunting and luminous snow scene unfolds across this signed woodb...

Category

1990s Japanese Japonisme Prints

Materials

Paper

Abstract Woodblock Print Figural Black & White, Nudes, Salvatore Grippi, 1950s

$3,250

Abstract Woodblock Print Figural Black & White, Nudes, Salvatore Grippi, 1950s

By Salvatore Grippi

Located in Brooklyn, NY

1950s abstract Expressionism Woodblock print on handmade paper Gorgeous, graphic early work from Grippi.

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Prints

Materials

Paper

Antique Japanese Woodblock Print, English Lady, Meiji Period

$1,989

Antique Japanese Woodblock Print, English Lady, Meiji Period

Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland

Antique Japanese Woodblock – English Lady – Meiji Period attributed to Utagawa Kuniteru II Yokohama-e – Yokohama-e are prints depicting foreigners in Yokohama after Japan was opene...

Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Meiji Prints

Materials

Paper

Ando Hiroshige woodblock print

$880Sale Price|20% Off

Ando Hiroshige woodblock print

By Utagawa Hiroshige (Ando Hiroshige)

Located in Pasadena, TX

Ando (Utagawa) Hiroshige was the master of the landscape. He thrived in the early part of the 19th century. His works of art are highly sought out. This is a very good addition to co...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Prints

Materials

Paper

Albert AbramovitzWPA Artist woodblock print "Letter from overseas"

$850

WPA Artist woodblock print "Letter from overseas"

By Albert Abramovitz

Located in Surfside, FL

Pencil signed original limited edition woodcut woodblock print great depression era. from the 1930s.

Category

1930s American Realist Interior Prints

Materials

Woodcut

Yoshida HiroshiFuji Yama from Miho, Jizuri Seal, Japanese Woodblock Print, 1935

$5,200

Fuji Yama from Miho, Jizuri Seal, Japanese Woodblock Print

By Yoshida Hiroshi

Located in Grand Rapids, MI

Hiroshi Yoshida (Japanese, 1876-1950) Signed: Hiroshi Yoshida, (in pencil, lower, right) " Fuji Yama from Mihö ", 1935 (titled, lower, left) with the jizuri seal, (self-printed),...

Category

Early 20th Century Landscape Prints

Materials

Washi Paper

Hiroaki Takahas Japanese Woodblock Print “Thunderstorm At Tateishi” Signed C1925

$600Sale Price|20% Off

Hiroaki Takahas Japanese Woodblock Print “Thunderstorm At Tateishi” Signed C1925

Located in Big Flats, NY

An antique Japanese woodblock print titled 'Thunderstorm At Tateishi' by Hiroaki Takahashi, also known as Shotei.

Category

20th Century Japanese Prints

Materials

Paper

Woodblock Print Comical Views of Famous Places in Edo by Hiroshige Hirokage

$600

Woodblock Print Comical Views of Famous Places in Edo by Hiroshige Hirokage

Located in Atlanta, GA

Artist: Utagawa Hirokage (active 1855-1865) Series: Comical Views of Famous Places in Edo Number: 40 "Towboats on the Yotsugi-dori Canal" Medium: Woodblock Print Date: 1859 Form...

Category

Antique 1850s Japanese Edo Prints

Materials

Paper

Late 19th Century Meiji Period Japanese Woodblock Print

$345

Late 19th Century Meiji Period Japanese Woodblock Print

By Katsushika Hokusai

Located in Chapel Hill, NC

Late 19th century Meiji period Japanese woodblock print. After a painting in the MET, NYC, by Katsushita Hokusai illustrating bijin-ga (beauties) carrying pots for the Tsukama Festiv...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Prints

Materials

Paper

Mabel Allington RoydsMabel A. Royds Boat Builders Woodblock print c. 1915-20, c.1915-20

$513

Mabel A. Royds Boat Builders Woodblock print c. 1915-20

By Mabel Allington Royds

Located in London, GB

Royds' technique was unusual in that she painted the colour onto the woodblock with a brush, giving each print a unique character.

Category

Early 20th Century Art Deco Prints and Multiples

Materials

Woodcut

Shunbaisai HokueiActor Arashi Rikan II as Aburaya Yohei - Figurative Woodblock Print on Paper, 1836

$875

Actor Arashi Rikan II as Aburaya Yohei - Figurative Woodblock Print on Paper

Located in Soquel, CA

Actor Arashi Rikan II as Aburaya Yohei - Figurative Woodblock Print on Paper Woodblock print of kabuki actor by Shunbaisai Hokuei (Japanese, d. 1837).

Category

1830s Edo Figurative Prints

Materials

Paper, Ink, Woodcut

SADANOBU HASAGAWA III - 'Geisha Girl in Winter' - Woodblock Print - 20th Century

$895

SADANOBU HASAGAWA III - 'Geisha Girl in Winter' - Woodblock Print - 20th Century

Located in Chatham, ON

SADANOBU HASAGAWA III (1881-1963) - 'Geisha Girl in Winter' - Vintage woodblock print - single print (not part of a series) - signed in the print - unframed - Japan - mid 20th centur...

Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Edo Prints

Materials

Paper

Utagawa HiroshigeTakanawa no Kihan - Woodblock print by Utagawa Hiroshige - 1843-1847, 1843-1847

$743

Takanawa no Kihan - Woodblock print by Utagawa Hiroshige - 1843-1847

By Utagawa Hiroshige

Located in Roma, IT

Takanawa no kihan is a modern artwork realized between 1843 and 1847 after Utagawa Hiroshige. Ukiyo-e color woodblock print from the Touto hakkei (The Eight Famous Views of the Capi...

Category

Mid-19th Century Modern Figurative Prints

Materials

Woodcut

Kiyoshi Saito “Horyuji Temple (Late Autumn)” Japanese Woodblock Print

$1,517

Kiyoshi Saito “Horyuji Temple (Late Autumn)” Japanese Woodblock Print

Located in Weesp, NL

Kiyoshi Saito “Horyuji Temple (Late Autumn)” Japanese Sosaku-Hanga Woodblock Print, Mid-20th Century A striking and highly collectible Japanese woodblock print by celebrated artist ...

Category

Vintage 1960s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Prints

Materials

Paper

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Find Authentic Woodblock Prints on 1stDibs

For concision, power and delight, it’s hard to beat woodblock prints, the products of an artistic tradition that is aging very well indeed.

The genre, unique to Japan, grew out of 17th-century developments in printing and book publishing. The form became known as “picture of the floating world,” an evocative name that captures the dreaminess of many of the scenes (which were often erotic). In an overview of the years from 1680 to 1938 in Taschen’s Japanese Woodblock Prints, author Andreas Marks presents the reader with a brief history of the development of woodblocks, describing for example how extra colors were added, and then devotes most of the following chapters to significant individual artists over the centuries. Four of the most common subjects are delineated: beauties, actors, landscapes and bird-and-flower compositions. Famous for book illustrations as well as paintings, Japanese ukiyo-e artist Katsushika Hokusai captured the grand power of nature by depicting Mount Fuji, Japan’s tallest peak, as a tiny triangle seemingly being swallowed by an enormous wave in his The Great Wave off Kanagawa.

Some of the great creators of the 18th and 19th centuries, such as Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858), are still well known, their works frequently shown in museums today. European artists like Van Gogh and Manet were indelibly influenced by them, for reasons that are plain.

But Marks’s stated aim is to spread his attention around and not “single out the handful of ‘stars’ commonly found in books and exhibitions.” Some of the later talents covered in his compendium — like the relatively unfamiliar Yamamura Koka (also known as Toyonari), whose beguiling 1920s works convey suggestions of the Jazz Age — the heady, optimistic era between the end of World War I and the crash of 1929 — may be the biggest revelations.

Find a collection of original woodblock prints for sale on 1stDibs.

Questions About Woodblock Print

What are Japanese woodblock prints?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
Japanese woodblock prints, which date back to the 8th century and are also known as ukiyo-e, are a traditional art form originally produced only in Buddhist monasteries to produce religious texts and images. In the 17th century, private studios began opening as woodblock prints became popular. To make a woodblock print, the artist creates a design on paper, and a wood carver places it on the block and carves the design. Each color requires its own woodblock, which are then covered with watercolors and printed on rice paper. On 1stDibs, find a variety of Japanese woodblock prints from top sellers around the world.
Are Japanese woodblock prints valuable?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 13, 2024
Yes, some Japanese woodblock prints are valuable. Prices vary greatly, with some selling for hundreds of dollars and others fetching selling prices of over a million at auction. Makers have a big influence on the price, with prints from masters like Hiroshige, Hokusai and Kitagawa Utamaro often having the greatest value. Other things that determine how much woodblock prints are worth include the quality of the image, the condition of the print, its age, its rarity and the demand among collectors. An expert appraiser or dealer can give you an estimate of the value of a particular print. Explore a selection of Japanese woodblock prints on 1stDibs.
How do I identify Japanese woodblock prints?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMay 30, 2024
To identify Japanese woodblock prints, try using the website Ukiyo-e Search. Simply snap a photo of your print and upload it to the site, which will then compare the image to its database of thousands of prints and quickly display the results. If you have difficulty identifying your print, use the services of a certified appraiser or knowledgeable art dealer who has experience with Japanese art. Shop a large selection of Japanese woodblock prints on 1stDibs.
How can you tell if a woodblock print is real?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertOctober 15, 2024
To tell if a woodblock print is real, turn it over. Due to the processes used to produce woodblock prints, it is usually possible to see the ink bleeding through on the reverse side of an original print. Reproductions will not have this characteristic since they are made by machine. If you're still uncertain whether your print is an original, experts recommend consulting a certified appraiser or experienced art dealer, as it can be very difficult to tell a convincing reprint apart from a real woodblock without proper training. Find a wide variety of woodblock prints on 1stDibs.