Bokashi Prints (506)

Bokashi (ぼかし) — the graduated color printing technique that is a hallmark of Japanese woodblock printmaking. Achieved by wiping ink across the block in a gradient before printing, bokashi creates atmospheric skies, misty backgrounds, and luminous color transitions.

Artists Known for Bokashi

Lake Chuzenji, Nikko (Nikko Chuzenjiko) by Kawase Hasui

Lake Chuzenji, Nikko (Nikko Chuzenjiko)

Nikko Chuzenjiko

1930

Color woodblock print; oban

Lake Kugushi in Wakasa Province (Wakasa Kugushiko), from the series Souvenirs of Travel I (Tabi miyage dai isshu)" by Kawase Hasui

Lake Kugushi in Wakasa Province (Wakasa Kugushiko), from the series Souvenirs of Travel I (Tabi miyage dai isshu)"

Wakasa Kugushiko

1920

Color woodblock print; oban

Misty Night at Miyajima (Oboroyo [Miyajima]), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)" by Kawase Hasui

Misty Night at Miyajima (Oboroyo [Miyajima]), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)"

Oboroyo [Miyajima]

1921

Color woodblock print; oban

Miyajima in Snow (Yuki no Miyajima) by Kawase Hasui

Miyajima in Snow (Yuki no Miyajima)

Yuki no Miyajima

1929

Color woodblock print; oban

A Section of the Byodo Temple at Uji (Uji Byodoin no ichibu), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)" by Kawase Hasui

A Section of the Byodo Temple at Uji (Uji Byodoin no ichibu), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)"

Uji Byodoin no ichibu

1921

Color woodblock print; oban

Mt. Fuji in Rain (Ame no Fuji) by Kawase Hasui

Mt. Fuji in Rain (Ame no Fuji)

n.d.

Color woodblock print

A Water Conduit, A Scene in Sado (Mizuagehi [Sado shoken]), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)" by Kawase Hasui

A Water Conduit, A Scene in Sado (Mizuagehi [Sado shoken]), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)"

Mizuagehi [Sado shoken]

1921

Color woodblock print; oban

Omiya in Rain (Ame no Omiya) by Kawase Hasui

Omiya in Rain (Ame no Omiya)

Ame no Omiya

1930

Color woodblock print; oban

Snow at Tsukishima (Tsukishima no yuki), from the series "Twenty Views of Tokyo (Tokyo nijukkei)" by Kawase Hasui

Snow at Tsukishima (Tsukishima no yuki), from the series "Twenty Views of Tokyo (Tokyo nijukkei)"

Tsukishima no yuki

1930

Color woodblock print; oban

A Farmhouse in Autumn, Ayashi, Miyagi Prefecture (Noka no aki (Miyagi ken Ayashi) by Kawase Hasui

A Farmhouse in Autumn, Ayashi, Miyagi Prefecture (Noka no aki (Miyagi ken Ayashi)

Noka no aki (Miyagi ken Ayashi

1946

Color woodblock print

Matsushima in Moonlight (Tsuki no Matsushima) by Kawase Hasui

Matsushima in Moonlight (Tsuki no Matsushima)

1919

Color woodblock print

Mishima River, Mutsu by Kawase Hasui

Mishima River, Mutsu

Summer 1919

Woodblock print, ink and color on paper

The Hori River at Obama (Obama Horikawa), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, First Series (Tabi miyage dai isshu)" by Kawase Hasui

The Hori River at Obama (Obama Horikawa), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, First Series (Tabi miyage dai isshu)"

Obama Horikawa

1920

Color woodblock print; oban

Toyama Plain (Toyama no hara), from the series "Twelve Scenes of Tokyo (Tokyo junidai)" by Kawase Hasui

Toyama Plain (Toyama no hara), from the series "Twelve Scenes of Tokyo (Tokyo junidai)"

Toyama no hara

1920

Color woodblock print

Egret Standing in Rain by Ohara Koson

Egret Standing in Rain

1928

Color woodblock print; oban

The Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku) by Hiroshi Yoshida

The Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku)

Kinkaku

1933

Color woodblock print

The Sumida River in Mist (Sumidagawa, kiri), from the series "Twelve Scenes of Tokyo (Tokyo junidai)" by Hiroshi Yoshida

The Sumida River in Mist (Sumidagawa, kiri), from the series "Twelve Scenes of Tokyo (Tokyo junidai)"

Sumidagawa, kiri

1926

Color woodblock print; oban

The Taj Mahal Gardens at Night, from the series "India and Southeast Asia" by Hiroshi Yoshida

The Taj Mahal Gardens at Night, from the series "India and Southeast Asia"

1931

Color woodblock print

Fujiyama from Okitsu by Hiroshi Yoshida

Fujiyama from Okitsu

1928

Color woodblock print

Sailing Boats: Morning (Hansen, asa), from the series "Seto Inland Sea (Seto Naikai shu)" by Hiroshi Yoshida

Sailing Boats: Morning (Hansen, asa), from the series "Seto Inland Sea (Seto Naikai shu)"

Hansen, asa

1926

Color woodblock print

Fujiyama-First Light of the Sun, from the series "Ten Views of Fuji" by Hiroshi Yoshida

Fujiyama-First Light of the Sun, from the series "Ten Views of Fuji"

1926

Color woodblock print

Kofukuji Temple, Nara by Tsuchiya Koitsu

Kofukuji Temple, Nara

1937

Color woodblock print

Evening Snow at Sanjūgen Canal (Sanjūgenbori no bosetsu), from the unfinished series Twelve Months of Tokyo (Tōkyō jūnikagetsu) by Kawase Hasui

Evening Snow at Sanjūgen Canal (Sanjūgenbori no bosetsu), from the unfinished series Twelve Months of Tokyo (Tōkyō jūnikagetsu)

1920

Woodblock print; ink and color on paper

Kaesong, Korea (Chosen Kaijo), from the series "Korean Views Supplement (Zoku Chosen fukei)" by Kawase Hasui

Kaesong, Korea (Chosen Kaijo), from the series "Korean Views Supplement (Zoku Chosen fukei)"

1940

Color woodblock print; oban

Chinese Bridge at Seta, from the series Eight Views of Lake Biwa (ōmi hakkei) by Ito Shinsui

Chinese Bridge at Seta, from the series Eight Views of Lake Biwa (ōmi hakkei)

1918

Woodblock print; ink and color on paper

Mii-dera, from the series Eight Views of Lake Biwa (ōmi hakkei) by Ito Shinsui

Mii-dera, from the series Eight Views of Lake Biwa (ōmi hakkei)

1917

Woodblock print; ink and color on paper

Kingfisher on Snowy Stump by Ohara Koson

Kingfisher on Snowy Stump

Shōwa period, 1935

Woodblock print; ink and color on paper

Sacred Bridge in Nikko by Tsuchiya Koitsu

Sacred Bridge in Nikko

日光神橋

c. 1930s

Woodblock print

Forest of Water God at Sumida River by Tsuchiya Koitsu

Forest of Water God at Sumida River

隅田川水神の森

c. 1930s

Woodblock print

Kintai Bridge by Tsuchiya Koitsu

Kintai Bridge

錦帯橋

c. 1930s

Woodblock print

Bridge Soochow by Elizabeth Keith

Bridge Soochow

Woodblock print

Asakusa Kannon Temple by Tsuchiya Koitsu

Asakusa Kannon Temple

浅草観音堂

1933

Woodblock print

Evening Glow at Lake Sai by Tsuchiya Koitsu

Evening Glow at Lake Sai

西湖の夕照

c. 1930s

Woodblock print

Nezu Shrine in Snow by Tsuchiya Koitsu

Nezu Shrine in Snow

雪の根津神社

c. 1930s

Woodblock print

Niju-bashi Bridge by Tsuchiya Koitsu

Niju-bashi Bridge

二重橋

c. 1930s

Woodblock print

Zojo-ji Temple in Snow by Tsuchiya Koitsu

Zojo-ji Temple in Snow

増上寺の雪

1933

Woodblock print

Afternoon at Nino Bridge, Azabu (Azabu Ninohashi no gogo), from the series "Twelve Months of Tokyo (Tokyo junikagetsu)" by Kawase Hasui

Afternoon at Nino Bridge, Azabu (Azabu Ninohashi no gogo), from the series "Twelve Months of Tokyo (Tokyo junikagetsu)"

Azabu Ninohashi no gogo

1921

Color woodblock print

Daigo Denpo Temple, Kyoto (Daigo Denpoin Kyoto) by Kawase Hasui

Daigo Denpo Temple, Kyoto (Daigo Denpoin Kyoto)

Daigo Denpoin Kyoto

1950

Color woodblock print

Dawn Snow at the Port of Ogi, Sado (Yuki no akebono, Sado Ogi wan), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)" by Kawase Hasui

Dawn Snow at the Port of Ogi, Sado (Yuki no akebono, Sado Ogi wan), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)"

Yuki no akebono, Sado Ogi wan

December 1921

Color woodblock print

Dawn over Lake Shoji by Kawase Hasui

Dawn over Lake Shoji

c. 1935

Color woodblock print; shikishiban

Early Summer Rain, Arakawa (Samidare (Arakawa)) by Kawase Hasui

Early Summer Rain, Arakawa (Samidare (Arakawa))

Samidare (Arakawa

June 1932

Color woodblock print

Evening Snow at Sanjugen Canal (Sanjugenbori no bosetsu), from the series "Twelve Months of Tokyo (Tokyo junikagetsu)" by Kawase Hasui

Evening Snow at Sanjugen Canal (Sanjugenbori no bosetsu), from the series "Twelve Months of Tokyo (Tokyo junikagetsu)"

Sanjugenbori no bosetsu

1920

Color woodblock print

Evening Snow at Shiha Park, Tokyo by Kawase Hasui

Evening Snow at Shiha Park, Tokyo

1932

Woodblock print

Fuji River by Kawase Hasui

Fuji River

February 1933

Woodblock print, ink and color on paper

Futago Islands, Matsushima (Matsushima Futagojima), from the series “Collection of Scenic Views of Japan, Eastern Japan Edition (Nihon fukei shu higashi Nihon hen)" by Kawase Hasui

Futago Islands, Matsushima (Matsushima Futagojima), from the series “Collection of Scenic Views of Japan, Eastern Japan Edition (Nihon fukei shu higashi Nihon hen)"

Matsushima Futagojima

December 1933

Color woodblock print

Gion Bridge at Hondo Amakusa, (Amakusa Hondo Gion-bashi), from the series "Selction of Views of Japan (Nihon fukei senshu)" by Kawase Hasui

Gion Bridge at Hondo Amakusa, (Amakusa Hondo Gion-bashi), from the series "Selction of Views of Japan (Nihon fukei senshu)"

Amakusa Hondo Gion-bashi

1924

Color woodblock print; oban

Hall of the Golden Hue, Chuson Temple, Hiraizumi, from the series “Collection of Scenic Views of Japan, Eastern Japan Edition” (Nihon fukei shu higashi Nihon hen, Hiraizumi Chusonji Konjikido) by Kawase Hasui

Hall of the Golden Hue, Chuson Temple, Hiraizumi, from the series “Collection of Scenic Views of Japan, Eastern Japan Edition” (Nihon fukei shu higashi Nihon hen, Hiraizumi Chusonji Konjikido)

October, 1935

Color woodblock print

Imhae Pavilion, Kyongju, Korea, from the series "Korean Views Supplement" (Zoku Chosen fukei, Chosen Keishu Rinkaitei by Kawase Hasui

Imhae Pavilion, Kyongju, Korea, from the series "Korean Views Supplement" (Zoku Chosen fukei, Chosen Keishu Rinkaitei

1940

Color woodblock print

In the Snow, Nakayama-shichiri Road, Hida, from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Third Series" (Tabi miyage dai sanshu, Hida Nakayama-shichiri) by Kawase Hasui

In the Snow, Nakayama-shichiri Road, Hida, from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Third Series" (Tabi miyage dai sanshu, Hida Nakayama-shichiri)

1924

Color woodblock print

Kannon Temple at Abuto (Abuto no Kannon), from the series "Selection of Views of Japan (Nihon fukei senshu)" by Kawase Hasui

Kannon Temple at Abuto (Abuto no Kannon), from the series "Selection of Views of Japan (Nihon fukei senshu)"

Abuto no Kannon

1922

Color woodblock print; oban

Kansanomiya Shrine at Tazawa Lake (Tazawako Kansanomiyagu), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Third Series (Tabi miyage dai sanshu)" by Kawase Hasui

Kansanomiya Shrine at Tazawa Lake (Tazawako Kansanomiyagu), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Third Series (Tabi miyage dai sanshu)"

Tazawako Kansanomiyagu

1927

Color woodblock print; oban

Kintai Bridge in Suo Province (Suo Kintaikyo), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Third Series (Tabi miyage dai sanshu)" by Kawase Hasui

Kintai Bridge in Suo Province (Suo Kintaikyo), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Third Series (Tabi miyage dai sanshu)"

Suo Kintaikyo

1924

Color woodblock print; oban

Kiyozumi Garden in Moonlight by Kawase Hasui

Kiyozumi Garden in Moonlight

January 1938

Woodblock print, ink and color on paper

Late Snow Along Edo River by Kawase Hasui

Late Snow Along Edo River

1932

Woodblock print

Misty Moonlight at Matsue in Izumo Province (Izumo Matsue [oborozuki]), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Third Series (Tabi miyage dai sanshu)" by Kawase Hasui

Misty Moonlight at Matsue in Izumo Province (Izumo Matsue [oborozuki]), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Third Series (Tabi miyage dai sanshu)"

Izumo Matsue [oborozuki]

1924

Color woodblock print; oban

Modan Viewpoint, Pyongyang, Korea, from the series "Korean Views Supplement" (Zoku Chosen fukei, Chosen Heijo Botandai) by Kawase Hasui

Modan Viewpoint, Pyongyang, Korea, from the series "Korean Views Supplement" (Zoku Chosen fukei, Chosen Heijo Botandai)

1940

Color woodblock print

Moon over the Ara River, Akabane, from the series "Twenty Views of Tokyo" (Tokyo nijukei, Arakawa no tsuki (Akabane)) by Kawase Hasui

Moon over the Ara River, Akabane, from the series "Twenty Views of Tokyo" (Tokyo nijukei, Arakawa no tsuki (Akabane))

Tokyo nijukei, Arakawa no tsuki (Akabane

1929

Color woodblock print

Moonlight over Lake Kamo in Sado Island (Getsumei no Kamoko [Sado]), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)" by Kawase Hasui

Moonlight over Lake Kamo in Sado Island (Getsumei no Kamoko [Sado]), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)"

Getsumei no Kamoko [Sado]

1921

Color woodblock print; oban

Mt. Fuji Clear After Snow, Tagonoura by Kawase Hasui

Mt. Fuji Clear After Snow, Tagonoura

1932

Woodblock print

Pagoda at Honmon Temple, Ikegami (Ikegami Honmonji no to) by Kawase Hasui

Pagoda at Honmon Temple, Ikegami (Ikegami Honmonji no to)

Ikegami Honmonji no to

1954

Color woodblock print

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