Question

while researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

• ukiyo-e is a genre of japanese art that flourished from the 17th through 19th centuries, primarily in the form of woodblock prints.
• the term \ukiyo-e\ translates to \pictures of the floating world,\ referring to the hedonistic lifestyle of the urban merchant class.
• early prints were produced only in black and white using ink on paper.
• in the mid-1700s, suzuki harunobu pioneered the nishiki-e (brocade picture) technique.
• this technique used multiple woodblocks—one for each color—allowing for the mass production of prints with a full spectrum of vibrant hues.
• the introduction of nishiki-e transformed woodblock printing from a simple graphic medium into a sophisticated, painterly art form accessible to the public.

25 mark for review
the student wants to emphasize the impact of the nishiki-e technique on the ukiyo-e genre. which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
a) suzuki harunobu developed the nishiki-e technique in the mid-1700s to allow for the use of multiple woodblocks in a single print.
b) the nishiki-e technique allowed artists to produce \brocade pictures,\ which reflected the hedonistic lifestyle of the japanese merchant class.
c) by enabling the mass production of full-color prints, the nishiki-e technique turned woodblock printing into a sophisticated and widely accessible art form.
d) before the mid-1700s, ukiyo-e prints were restricted to black and white ink, but the new technique introduced a full spectrum of vibrant hues.

Explanation:

To determine the best choice, we analyze each option:

• Option A: Focuses on the development of the technique, not its impact on Ukiyo - e.
• Option B: Incorrectly links the "brocade pictures" to reflecting the merchant class lifestyle; the notes say "Ukiyo - e" refers to that, not the technique's product.
• Option C: Correctly states that the nishiki - e technique (enabling mass production of full - color prints) transformed woodblock printing (part of Ukiyo - e) into a sophisticated and accessible art form, which is the impact on the genre.
• Option D: Only describes the color change, not the overall impact on the genre.

Answer:

C. By enabling the mass production of full - color prints, the nishiki - e technique turned woodblock printing into a sophisticated and widely accessible art form.