Japanese Woodblock Printmaking: Shōsōin Patterns
The Shōsōin is a remarkable time capsule of a building, preserving thousands of artifacts that reveal Nara, Japan’s role at the eastern edge of the Silk Road. From Buddhist devotional items and intricate jewelry to richly woven textiles, these treasures reflect a vibrant blend of cultural influences —from China and Korea to Persia and the Mediterranean—showcasing the global connections that shaped Japan’s history.
This course will take inspiration from the patterns that decorate textiles found in the Shōsōin, from Chinese style phoenixes, to Persianesque hunting scenes.
Students will learn a step-by-step process for creating a black and white woodblock print. As well as producing a print, students will learn how to use and look after their tools, brushes and papers in detail, and to produce their own prints independently after the course has ended. An absolute prerequisite to learning printmaking in colour.
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The Shōsōin is a remarkable time capsule of a building, preserving thousands of artifacts that reveal Nara, Japan’s role at the eastern edge of the Silk Road. From Buddhist devotional items and intricate jewelry to richly woven textiles, these treasures reflect a vibrant blend of cultural influences —from China and Korea to Persia and the Mediterranean—showcasing the global connections that shaped Japan’s history.
This course will take inspiration from the patterns that decorate textiles found in the Shōsōin, from Chinese style phoenixes, to Persianesque hunting scenes.
Students will learn a step-by-step process for creating a black and white woodblock print. As well as producing a print, students will learn how to use and look after their tools, brushes and papers in detail, and to produce their own prints independently after the course has ended. An absolute prerequisite to learning printmaking in colour.
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