Real Or Fake? A quick guide to the basics of appraising Japanese Woodblock Prints ( Ukiyoe ) 

Hello from New Zealand. I’ve recently started collecting woodblock prints. Thanks for the introduction to this fascinating subject. I hope to learn more from your channel.

Thank you. I'm looking at a set of prints right now and this was helpful.

Lovely video. So informative. Thank you.

Super helpful!

Informative video, thanks.

thanks for sharing very informative but dont forget old fine reprints are valuable, some were later reps of original blocks or recarved with excellent quality in better states than original runs, in which even colour variations have seen

Thanks, I learned a lot

Thank you for this information. I was buying block prints years ago (30-40 yrs) I have three Hiroshige's that a dealer want to look at. I suspect, however, after listening to your content, even at 40 years old they're probably reprints. In any case, I have enjoyed them over the years.

Well done - thanks!

Very informational!

the fingerprint of the original woodgrain is a great tip, thanks

Thanks! I have a gorgeous print in the Japanese style, but it is by a Chinese Artist! It's Yang Kaisheng, and apparently, he is well-known in China and even started a school over there, but I have been completely unlucky finding any info about him other than the one paragraph! What's more, I can only find one image other than my own! I know it's original for all the reasons you stated, and also signed in pencil. I will keep it forever so I guess it doesn't matter, but it would be nice to know why there isn't much out there about him. Thanks for your video!

Great Vid! How would one go about finding out information on prints. Our parents collected art and midmod furniture. We have 3 woodblock prints that they aquired in the 60s. One is Benkie with his bell and appears to be very old

I would say a fake is only a reproduction from recarved woodblocks, I wouldn't called restrikes as fake, they are just reprinting from the original woodblocks. Later reprints have breaks in key lines, or small parts that were recarved as you mentioned. Paper is not bright white in older prints, the white is mellowed by age. With a lot of shin hanga prints and even Meiji prints you have different print/carver/publisher seals. Early limited editions have limited edition seals on the back as well. Searching the web will help with determining if you have an early seal or a later edition seal. Early edition seals will probably be rarer. Knowing the seals is the best way to determine what you have.

Do you have any idea regarding signatures? For example, is it normal for a series to have multiple styles of signature from the same artist, eventhough they are the same collection? Arent they all stamped anyway, so they would all be similar? Or is looking at signature not the right way to authenticate prints?

I recently came across some woodblock prints. Do you look at prints to see if they’re of value? I don’t want to part with them without knowing a little more.

I really need help on mine that I have. It’s just one but I can’t read Japanese nor can I figure out the chop. The chop is hand drawn with red and the washi paper looks more like cloth. Any way I can send you a picture and get your opinion? Need help bad

Hello Very informative video! I'm not sure if I just didn't hear it. if you got it in the video, I'm sorry! But what is the average price for such an original?

Thank you so much for sharing. My problem is that i have a "woodblock" on a laid paper. But it looks like it is a modern print. I checked under the microscope and now I'm pretty positive ab that. It has the foxing. So now I'm at a loss. I can't find any info on the editions. So i have zero idea how old this thing is. It's clear that it is not an original. But is it 1920/30/40 maybe even 60s? I don't know 😢

I have an old Japanese woodblock print of roses. It has foxing so it's old. I tried to do a reverse look up and have never seen this print anywhere else on the internet?

I am curious....the lines from the drying racks.. I wish you could show us where and what they look like? Thank you for your great videos.

What about emboss on prints

Thank you for the video. I know that wood grain can be an aesthetic choice, especially for specific prints and artists/designers. Is it accurate to say that prominent wood grain means an early version of the print, or could it possibly be the person who may have commissioned the print wanting less wood grain. Just curious. Thanks!

I have two sharaku prints That were World War 2, bring back. They were given to my grandmother at her wedding by A colonel . She had an appraisal done in the 80s here in Memphis, and they valued them at $6000 8000. I don't know if it's b******* or not, can you help? I would like to email you if I could.

Are you really able to store originals in plastic sleeves like this? I was told to get museum board and store it inside an archival binder box.

Takeda Shingen

Domo arigato

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