Woodblock prints have been a part of the Asian culture for a long time.  For instance, during the Edo period, Japan was strongly influenced by China’s culture.  Although woodblock prints were originally designed using only black ink, colored prints came about near Shanghai during the end of the Ming Dynasty, all the way to the start of the Ch’ing Dynasty. 

Many wonderful artists have taken woodblock prints and created their own style and/or genre.  For this reason, when you shop for prints, you will find many similarities but also many differences, each unique to the actual artist.  Today, woodblock prints have become quite popular in that they look amazing and bring with them a piece of the Asian culture and history. 

One such artist, which little is known about, is a man named Moromasa.  As a pupil of Moronobu, he signed his woodblock prints using his actual name, as well as Tsukitsukido.  We know that his active years of creating woodblock prints were from 1715 to 1740 and that he represented the third generation of the school called Moronobu. 

Although Moromasa was quite talented, his area of specialty was in Bijin portraits.  His favorite and best work was focused on scenes.  His full name is Hishikawa Moromasa so if you wanted to try to locate some of his work, you would need to check this name, along with Moromasa and Tsukitsukido.  Most people will tell you that Moromasa’s work is somewhat challenging to find but truly a treasure when it is. 

If you want to enhance the beauty of your home or office with black and white or colored woodblock prints, we strongly recommend you take time to look at many of the past artists who founded this craft.  Although some of the prints can be steeply priced, you might be surprised at how many are very affordable.  Without doubt, woodblock prints bring something special, something of deep character to the decorum.