Japanese Printmakers - Paper Sizes

Paper Sizes

There were a number of standard sizes for prints in the Edo period, some of which follow. (All centimeter measurements are approximate.)

  • Chūban (中判, middle size)(26x19cm)
  • Chūtanzaku (中短冊)(38x13cm) - also known simply as tanzaku; half of an ōban, cut lengthwise
  • Hashira-e (柱絵)(68-73 x 12–16 cm) - a narrow, upright format often called "pillar prints"
  • Hosoban (細判)(33x15cm) - several hosoban was cut from an ō-ōban (大大判, large large size); hosoban was the smallest of the common sheet sizes.
  • Kakemono-e (掛物絵)(76.5x23cm) - large, upright format comprised approximately of two ōban arranged one above the other. Kakemono also refers to hanging scroll paintings.
  • Ōban (大判, large size)(39x26.5 cm) - the most common sheet size.
  • Ō-hosoban (大細判)(38x17cm) - also known as Ō-tanzaku
  • Shikishiban (21 x 18 cm) often used for surimono

The Japanese terms for vertical (portrait) and horizontal (landscape) formats for images are tate-e (立て絵) and yoko-e (横絵), respectively.

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