Woodblock prints are illustrations made from a carved block of wood and printed on paper. They were first

Woodblock prints are illustrations made from a carved block of wood and printed on paper. They were first used in Japan in 21_________ to illustrate book. When readers became more and more 22_________ in the illustrations for their artistic value, publishers hired skilled artists to create prints which could be sold separately. By the end of the 23_________ century, techniques were developed to produce many copies of a print from the same woodblock, making this fine art available to the general public.

The most famous Japanese woodblock prints were made during the 1700s and 1800s. The styles were unique to Japan. Scenes from everyday life or the theater, beautiful women, and landscapes were often the 24_________ of these prints. The Japanese name ukiyoe ,25_________ "pictures from the floating world," is used to describe the famous woodblock prints from this era: This refers 26_________ images of fleeting moments of pleasure, amusement, andentertainment 27_________ by the artists. Later, European artists, particularly painters of theFrench Impressionist School, admired and were influenced by the bold colors and 28_________ designs of these Japanese woodblock prints.

Making a woodblock print has three 29_________ stages:cutting, inking and printing. First the artist takes a block of soft wood, usually pine, and cuts away parts of the wood with a sharp too1. The design is the part of the wood that is left uncut and upraised. Next the design is coated with 30_________ , and a sheet of paper is placed over it , rubbing the paper then transfers the ink from the woodblock to the surface of the paper. For different colors, different blocks of wood are used, one for each color.

21.A.1960 B.the 1960 C.1960s D.the 1960s

22.A.interest B.interested C.interesting D.interests

23.A.seventeen B.seventeen's C.seventeenth D.seventeenths

24.A.subjects B.names C.pictures D.paper

25.A.mean B.means C.meant D.meaning

26.A.on B. to C. up D. for

27.A.found B.invented C.captured D.created

28.A.unusual B.usual C.ordinary D.common

29.A.big B.small C.minor D.major

30.A.ink B.paper C.plastic D.wood