Gyotaku: The ancient Japanese art of printing fish - K. Erica Dodge
- 476,520 Views
- 4,718 Questions Answered
- TEDEd Animation
Let’s Begin…
How did fishermen record their trophy catches before the invention of photography? In 19th century Japan, fishing boats were equipped with rice paper, sumi-e ink, and brushes in order to create gyotaku: elaborate rubbings of freshly caught fish. K. Erica Dodge recounts the story of this competitive fishing culture, plus some tips on how to make your very own etchings.
Additional Resources for you to Explore
Here are some stellar examples of gyotaku.
Here's a brief history of gyotaku.
Gyotaku (gyo=fish, taku=impression) is an ancient Oriental art form which uses actual fresh-caught fish to create lovely one-of-a-kind art prints on cloth or paper. Natural Impressions employs the traditional gyotaku techniques with modern twists, using fresh-caught Hawaiian fish and natural vegetation for spectacular results!
Here's a brief history of gyotaku.
Gyotaku (gyo=fish, taku=impression) is an ancient Oriental art form which uses actual fresh-caught fish to create lovely one-of-a-kind art prints on cloth or paper. Natural Impressions employs the traditional gyotaku techniques with modern twists, using fresh-caught Hawaiian fish and natural vegetation for spectacular results!
TED-Ed
Lesson Creator
New York, NY
Why do you think it was popular? Do you enjoy it? Are there other things like gyotaku that you enjoy more?
Create and share a new lesson based on this one.
Meet The Creators
- Animator Eduardo Sandoval
- Director Franco Barroeta Fonseca
- Educator K. Erica Dodge
- Sound Designer Luis Orlando Ruiz
- Narrator Michelle Snow
