1.Addiss, Stephen. "Wooden Prints." In How to look at Japanese Art. New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1996.

1. Stephen Addiss's essay "Woodblock Prints" provides its reader with an overview of Japanese woodblock prints and shows how this art form has evolved over time. Addiss begins with a brief introduction discussing the origins of woodblock prints and then starts a more detailed examination of the medium. The article discusses some of the major names in Japanese art such as Moronobu, Utamaro, Hokusai, and Hiroshige. Addiss looks at prints and discusses line, form, and space as well as social relevance. This article maps out the evolution of the woodblock print from its first religious use to its mesh with more abstract modern art. Addiss's article seems to have been written for educational purposes. This can be obviously seen through the "Key Questions When Looking at Prints" section on the final page. His goal appears to have been to provide a history of Japanese woodblock prints for people that had little or no knowledge of the subject. Addiss clearly is knowledgeable in this subject and also greatly appreciates the art form and the Japanese culture as a whole.

I found Addiss's article to be very informative. "Woodblock Prints" was easy to read and understand, and it provided me with a good base of knowledge. I think that Addiss's discussion of specific prints was intriguing and it helped me get a better understanding of how to view the artwork on my own. The article was well written and conclusive. Addiss's final example of Shinoda's lithograph offers the reader an interesting look at the direction Japanese prints might progress towards.

Kelly Brant