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Japanese Woodblock Planner 2012

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Woodblock printing was invented in China around the year 200. However it was not adopted in Japan till the 17th century. However, when it did catch on, it became a major force in not only the printing of books, but also art production. The combination of color and clear lines make these pieces of art [...]

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Hello Kitty 2012 Calendars and Planners

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Hello Kitty is a Japanese cartoon character who was designed specifically with merchandise in mind, though there is also an anime cartoon series. To the Dutch Hello Kitty is reminiscent of ‘Miffy’ (Nijntje) a cartoon character that also doesn’t have a mouth (or nose) a stylized version of a rabbit. Hello Kitty is of course [...]

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Japanese woodblock calendars 2012

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The art of Japanese woodblock prints is fabulous. I don’t know how they get those nuanced colors to combine with the sharp lines and the fascinating shapes. Calendars featuring this art form, usually showing off 19th century woodblock prints, are a beautiful addition to any home. Japanese Woodblocks 2012 Wall Calendar Discover the “Art of [...]

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Utagawa Hiroshige Wall Calendars 2011, 2012

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Utagawa Hiroshige (1797 – 1858) was one of the last great artists in the ukiyo-e tradition. Literally meaning “pictures of the floating world”, ukiyo-e refers to the famous Japanese woodblock print genre that originated in the 17th century and is practically synonymous with the Western world’s visual characterization of Japan. Though Hiroshige captured a variety [...]

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Katsushika Hokusai woodblock prints calendars 2012

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The Great Wave off Kanagawa, also known as The Great Wave or simply The Wave, is a woodblock print by the Japanese artist Hokusai. An example of ukiyo-e art, it was published sometime between 1830 and 1833 (during the Edo Period) as the first in Hokusai’s series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji, and is his [...]

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