Sanmaitsuzuki
三枚続
A triptych—three sheets designed as a continuous composition. Triptychs allowed artists to create panoramic landscapes, multi-figure scenes, and dramatic battle compositions on a grand scale.
Related Terms
Sabi
寂
An aesthetic concept embracing the beauty of imperfection, transience, and the patina of age. While more associated with ceramics and gardens, sabi influenced the appreciation of subtle, atmospheric effects in prints.
Seal
印
Red stamps appearing on prints that identify the artist, publisher, carver, and (in later periods) censor. Reading seals is essential for authentication, dating, and understanding a print's production history.
Sharaku
写楽
Toshusai Sharaku (active 1794-1795), the mysterious artist who produced approximately 140 striking actor portraits in just ten months before vanishing from history. His bold, psychologically penetrating portraits were rediscovered by Western collectors in the 20th century.