UNSODO

美術書出版株式会社 芸艸堂



Woodblock printing is a more than 1300 years old Japanese printing technique. Unsodo, established in 1891, is the only company today that still publishes books by hand in this way. The peak of woodblock printing occurred in the Edo period when ukiyo-e, finely printed images in multiple colors, began to be published. During this period, a number of masterpieces were created by Hokusai and many other artists which have had a significant influence on Western painters. The woodblock printing technique requires three different artisans; a painter, an engraver and a printer. Because a colorful print is built up from multiple woodblocks depending on how many colors are used in the original painting. Unsodo has been passing on their traditional woodblock printing techniques for generations now whilst keeping an eye on the life style and trends of the moment. We have, for instance, been producing products such as stationary and interior goods by making a few adjustments to the paintings made during the Meiji to early Showa periods to speak to today’s users. Furthermore, we have developed products together with the fashion brand UNIQLO, and we are looking forward to continue to collaborate with different disciplines both inside and outside of Japan.

 
    
日本の印刷技術のルーツである木版印刷の技術を現在も継承する芸艸堂は、1891年の創業から現在まで手摺り木版和装本を刊行し続ける日本で唯一の会社です。木版画は1300年前から日本で行われている印刷技術で、特に江戸時代には木版印刷の最高峰といえる多色刷りの浮世絵が確立しました。ここで北斎などの絵師により傑作が生みだされ、西洋絵画にも多大なる影響を与えました。木版画は色ごとに異なる版を用い刷り重ねていく作業であり、一枚の絵には絵師・彫師・摺師という三つの高度な職人芸を要します。私たち芸艸堂はそうした伝統の木版印刷技術を継承しながら、明治~昭和初期の斬新な絵画をアレンジした商品や、文具、インテリアなども制作しています。また、衣類メーカー・ユニクロと共同で商品開発も行っており、今後も国内外のさまざまな分野とのコラボレーションを積極的に展開していきます。