Gyotaku

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A Gyotaku print made with a rubber fish replica.
A Gyotaku print made with a rubber fish replica.

Gyotaku (Japanese 魚拓, from gyo "fish" + taku "rubbing") is a traditional form of Japanese fish printing, dating from the mid 1800s, a form of nature printing used by fishermen to record their catches.

The process is similar to block printing or linocut. In order to make a gyotaku print, one places a fish on a flat surface and paints one side with sumi ink. Modern gyotaku often substitute the traditional sumi for water color, india ink or other painting material. A piece of rice paper is then carefully applied on top of the fish and then pulled off with a mirror image of the fish having been created on the substrate.

Gyotaku is also practiced as a form of art, and is very popular among young children both in Japan and Western countries. Sometimes, rubber fish replicas are used.

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