Wood-block Printing F. Morley Fletcher
[Baren] Editor's Introduction
Topics covered in this book:
- Materials and methods for woodblock printmaking in the Japanese method.
- Woodblock print design considerations.
- Cooperative printing.
Target audience:
- Anyone interested in the practical aspects of woodblock printmaking in the Japanese method - whether he be a beginner or an advanced student of the craft.
This is one of the earliest (the earliest?) 'How to' books on woodblock printmaking. Mr. Fletcher very thoroughly covers every aspect of the process in great detail, and if you had no other volume for reference than this, you would be able to produce quite satisfactory woodblock prints. His descriptions of the Japanese methods are sometimes based on the inadequate information that was available to him at the time (1916), but whatever the authenticity of his methods, they do work.
In addition to the wealth of technical material, he and his editor talk at some length about more general 'philosophical' aspects of woodblock printmaking, but I find this to be a bit of a muddled blend between the viewpoint of an 'artist' and that of a 'craftsman'. You may disagree.
A very interesting, informative, and useful book. Don't pass it up.
An eBook version of this text is available.