Seattle art historian David F. Martin will present a talk illustrating the influence of Japanese prints on Washington state artists active between 1910-1960.

The Pacific Northwest’s geographical location provided a convenient port of entry for many Japanese immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Japanese prints became the most collected art of the region through promotion by dealers and early art associations.

Martin will discuss how regional artists adapted the multi-block process of color printmaking by creating the designs, carving the blocks, and printing the proofs individually without assistance from additional artisans.

Some of the artists also created color prints by using an American adaptation known as “White Line” or “Provincetown Prints”. This technique utilized a single block that was carved and then painted each individual relief area with overlays of watercolors using registration to produce a cohesive image.

Many Northwest artists were also accomplished mountain climbers and often created their prints outdoors, close to the natural environment they were observing.

Besides printmaking, several artists used Japanese compositional elements in their paintings and photography.

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Booking Essential | Admission Free