Vintage Japan

The origins of the Japanese woodblock prints or ukiyo-e (pictures of the floating world) go back to the middle of the 17th century. The first prints were black and white, but the technique to use more one block (one for each color) and allowed the introduction of color woodblock prints. The most commonly illustrated subjects are theater, women, landscapes, animals and scenes from old legends. In the second half of the 19th century when Japan's isolation was broken by the US navy under Captain Perry's command, Ukiyo-e soon became very popular all over the world. Enjoy our reprint collection of these fashionable and timeless beauties from Japan.

http://www.cafepress.com/hantranslation/387477