In book illustrations and single-sheet prints of the 17th century, color was sometimes added to the designs by hand, as in this example from a book illustrated by Moronobu. These generally only feature a simple color palette of green, yellow and an orange-red derived from safflower. Because this red, known as beni in Japanese, was usually the predominant color, these images are often known as beni-e, or “red pictures.”

- Meher McArthur, January 7, 2021

Japanese text on the upper 1/3 of the image. On verso, in pencil: Motosuke, Johnson I, 1.

Black and white ink on paper, with hand-coloring (beni-e). Woodblock print.

Edo period color woodblock print of a man, sitting on the ground, with a paper and a fan, accompanied by a young boy. Text across the top part of the image.

Kinoshita Jin'emon.

This object has the following keywords:

• 1603-1700
• Artists and Craftsmen

This object is a member of the following portfolios: