版画

• Reading: はんが
• Romaji: hanga
• Kanji breakdown: 版 (han) — printing block, edition; 画 (ga) — picture, painting
• Pronunciation: /haɴ.ga/

Meaning

Woodcut; woodblock print; art print made by carving a design into a block and pressing it onto paper.

A noun referring to printmaking art, especially woodblock prints (木版画). Japan has a rich tradition of 版画, most famously ukiyo-e prints from the Edo period. Also encompasses modern printmaking techniques including copperplate (銅版画) and lithography (石版画). School art classes in Japan often include 版画 projects.

Examples

1. 美術館で浮世絵の版画展を見に行った。 I went to see a ukiyo-e woodblock print exhibition at the art museum.
2. 小学校の授業で版画を彫った経験がある。 I have memories of carving a woodblock print in elementary school art class.
3. この版画は江戸時代の庶民の暮らしを描いている。 This woodblock print depicts the daily life of common people in the Edo period.

Usage Guide

Context: art, museums, education, Japanese culture

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese 版 (han, printing block/edition) + 画 (ga, picture/painting). Literally 'block picture,' referring to images produced by pressing an inked carved block onto paper.

Cultural Context

Era: Edo period

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal