Printing Process ...

Here is a set of step-by-step images showing the stages of printing for the fourth print in my fifth Surimono Album. It is perhaps the most 'classical' print I have ever reproduced - a portrait of the kabuki actor Bando Mitsugoro III, by the famous Sharaku.

The original was of course in the standard o-ban size, but I have shrunk it down to fit my album format; this makes cutting hair quite an interesting challenge, but that's part of the fun!

I of course do not own a copy of the original print, but I do have an excellent reproduction made (probably) in the late Meiji or Taisho period. It is very well made indeed, and actually, compared with the illustrations of the original print I see in museum books, I find it more attractive.

Whether or not I will be able to 'catch' the beauty I see in that print remains to be seen over the next few days ... I hope you enjoy 'following along' with these pages, as the image comes to life step by step ...

Questions or comments? Write to me ...