Chuban
中判
A medium print format measuring approximately 27 x 19.5 cm(varies), roughly half the size of oban. Chuban was commonly used for surimono and certain series of actor prints.
Related Terms
Chokosai Eisho
鳥高斎栄昌
The most prominent pupil of Hosoda Eishi, Chokosai Eisho (active c. 1792-1801) specialized in okubi-e (bust portraits) of beautiful women and courtesans, competing directly with Kitagawa Utamaro. His celebrated series 'Kakuchu Bijin Kurabe' depicted real Yoshiwara courtesans against shimmering mica backgrounds.
Aiban
間判
A medium-sized print format measuring approximately 33 x 23 cm. The term translates to 'intermediate size' and was commonly used for actor prints and bijin-ga during the Edo period.
Aizuri-e
藍摺絵
Prints produced entirely in shades of blue, using imported Prussian blue (bero-ai) pigment. This technique became popular in the 1830s, most famously employed by Hokusai in his 'Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji' series. The monochromatic blue palette created a distinctive, atmospheric quality.