The Pass to The Kiyomizu Temple

Catalog note / 解説

Exhibiting these two copies of the same print, side by side, illustrates the damage caused by exposure to light. On the left is an example of a vividly colored print from the 1930s. On the right is a print that is light-struck, or over-exposed to light. Exposure to light causes fugitive pigments to fade, and the earth tones in this faded print may seem similar to many Edo period (1615-1868) prints. Notice the line along the left edge where a window mat protected the print from light exposure. The pink pigment in the umbrella has disappeared, and the other colors have faded to brown. Secondly, excessive exposure to the full light spectrum, including visible light and ultra-violet light, caus…