Artist paint pigments in Japan
#art #ukiyo-e #pigment #chemistry #chemie #metallurgy #metallurgie
Nihonga 日本画 are Japanese-style paintings made with traditional Japanese artistic conventions, techniques and materials. -- see Wikipedia "Nihonga" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nihonga; see also JAANUS (Japanese Architecture and Art Net Users System), "Nihonga" http://www.aisf.or.jp/~jaanus/deta/n/nihonga.htm
EDO PERIOD, 1600-1868. A thriving art market developed in Edo during the years that Japan was ruled by the Tokugawa Shogunate (1600-1868).
In the Edo period, sellers of paints for artists were limited in what they could provide. The colors and composition of paints were mixtures of indigenous materials. The use of traditional pigments had developed over the course of centuries. -- see "A Nihonga Painter in Yanaka,," NHK World. March 19, 2019. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/tv/tokyoeye2020/episode_20190306.html
• Iwa-enogu 岩絵具. Mineral pigment colors are produced by finely grinding natural minerals. Pigments can also be roasted to change their color. Nikawa glue is used as an adhesive. -- see JAANUS, "Iwa-enougu" http://www.aisf.or.jp/~jaanus/deta/i/iwaenogu.htm
• Suihi-enogu: Soil or clay is finely ground to make hues of yellow or red in hue. Nikawa glue is used as an adhesive. -- see Yamatane Museum of Art, "What is Nihonga?"http://www.yamatane-museum.jp/english/nihonga/
• Gofun 胡粉. The color white is made from natural oyster shells. Nikawa glue is used as an adhesive. -- see JAANUS, "Gofun" http://www.aisf.or.jp/~jaanus/deta/g/gofun.htm
• Senryō : Dyes or coloring materials derived from animal or plant matter are used. -- see Yamatane, "What is Nihonga?"http://www.yamatane-museum.jp/english/nihonga/
• Nikawa 膠. A gelatin glue or adhesive is made boiling and extracting protein from skins and bones of animals and fish, it has long been used as an adhesive. Since the pigments used in nihonga have no adhesive strength, the use of nikawa is needed to fix them to the surface of the painting. -- see JAANUS, "Nikawa" http://www.aisf.or.jp/~jaanus/deta/n/nikawa.htm
MEIJI PERIOD, 1868-1912. The art market in metropolitan Tokyo continued to expand after it became the Imperial capitol. Sellers of artist paints could offer "new" colors which only became possible because of use of imported materials which had been embargoed for 200+ years.
SUMMARY: Traditional Japanese artist paints continue to be manufactured and sold today; and there is an international market for these Nihonga pigments.
QUESTION: There may not be much interest in this topic now, but I would guess that this may change over time -- what do you think?
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QOTO = Question Others to Teach Ourselves?
Artist paint pigments in Japan
@chikara That was nicely crafted, thank you Chikara.
Nice research with lots of pointers to more in depth information. Clear organization. Nice imagery. The natural pigment minerals are intriguing.
I remember reading about Lapis Lazuli always being a prized pigment, rare and expensive, used in jewelry and paint preparation.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lapis_lazuli
I love the Bullets "•" you used in the text too -- and kind of wonder, how do you create one? I feel sorely limited on the options for visually organizing posts here in the Toot editor, as we have no bold or italics.
Thank you for the nice, rich post. 🙇
