Lessons from History

 ...well of course there are countless ones- and if we don't learn from what's gone before we're cursed to repeat mistakes.

I am thinking here though about what I picked up and directions I might be taken from a short-ish session on a History of Japanese Woodcut Printing  (Ukiyo-e)  run (on Zoom of course by City Lit.

The session which the leader (Carol Wilhide-Justin)  stressed was a personal one but it pointed way beyond the artisan craft into Colonialism in Asia (European and Asian) and some possible perspectives into the hegemony of the 'West '.    

 So I have some interest in Printmaking from many years back including a brief introductory course about 8 years ago I am also interested in Japan and the Japanese.

Well a quick summary of the facts we were given:

The Art  originated in China and is usually (in it's classical form)  connected to the hardwood from Wild Cherry trees. 

There's a nice summary of the art here.

.What I hadn't realised though is :

Japan has a long connection with the Dutch who were trading with the Japanese  prior to USA and France.

That  Japan literacy was in 19th century was about double the rate of European (at around 80%) and what was said to be the first novel was produced there too (The Tale of Kenji), The Japanese excelled at illustrated books and a clear line can be seen to present day Magna books.

It is interesting that this first novel was written by a woman and there are some quite interesting  non-conforming female figures coming out of China and Japan at present (For Japan the Social Historian/Journalist Youtube's  Merumo Think Tank and from Shenzen, South China the iconoclastic and gender busting  Cyber Punk Naomi Wu).

A couple of more specific points are now knowing that the registration mechanics are the 'Kagi  Corner' and following a question it is noted that up to 25 separate blocks (and therefore colours) could be used.