The Weaver, by Ogata Gekko

Although not visible in the final print, there is something a bit special about this one - the key block is carved entirely on boxwood. With the fifth print in the set - Benzaiten - I inserted a 'plug' into the keyblock for the face, but for this one, the fine lines everywhere 'asked' for boxwood instead of the usual cherry ... and they got their request!

Another challenge was trying to 'balance' the tone of the three totally different blues in the print. We never saw that sort of thing in Edo prints, but by this period - mid/late Meiji - printers had access to a much wider range of pigments. I imagine the effect must have been very dramatic and 'new' to the viewers of the day ...

Blocks: 8 cherrywood, 1 boxwood
Printing impressions: 13

• Key block
• Pale yellow undertone
• Wood tone
• Pale grey
• Darker grey (on wall)
• Blue sky
• Green foliage
• Blue gradation on kerchief
• Red gradation on sash
• Yellow butterfly
• Brown kimono pattern and shuttle
• Main kimono blue
• Black on obi and collar