The first colored book of the world is now available for (digital) browsing
This is the earliest Chinese book printed by the technique of polychrome xylography known asdouban invented and perfected by Hu Zhengyan 胡正言 (1584-1674). The method involves the use of multiple printing blocks which successively apply different coloured inks to the paper to reproduce the effect of watercolour painting. Great skill is required to achieve a convincing result, but the beautiful gradations of colour in this work have led to its […]