POSITION OF SIGNATURE AND RED HASUI SEAL: One block is responsible for
each, the signature and the seal, and accordingly are printed separately
from each other. The signature may have been part of the key block and/or
it could have been a separate block. The freshness of the signature on
print "D" indicates, to me at least, that at that time it was
separate from
the key block. (I hope that it is not my computer printer that is causing
this observation). The red block for the seal has been recut since print
"A". It too leaves a slightly different impression. Placement may be a
misalignment of the "kento" or sloppy printer work. The seal is
a function
of the printing system and not a separate "chop" mark applied after
printing was complete. The Honolulu Academy of Art has a complete set of
woodblocks (about ten each, carved both sides) for a print by Ishiwata
Koitsu. These were prepared by Watanabe along with an example of
each step
(around 20 steps in all) in the printing process complete with the step
being shown and ending with a fully complete print. The seal is
on the last
block along with other interim steps so that the blocks are
fully utilized.
The signature is on the key block.
Contributed by ukiyo-e scholar Philip H. Roach, Jr., moonlighting/slumming here for the noble but doomed purpose of helping our members combat the Attention Deficit from which we Shin Hanga lightweights apparently suffer.
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