<p>The technique seems to be woodblock printing.<br>
You can tell by the linearity of the drawing, the lack of large dark areas, and the wavy structure of the lines. Especially the second picture shows the underlying wood nerves, as adjacent lines have the same slight deviation.</p>

<p>Not very oriental sounding, I know.  </p>

<p>The Japanese term for woodblock printing is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodblock_printing_in_Japan" rel="noreferrer">mokuhanga</a>, <strong>and stylistically, the images can be considered a form of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukiyo-e" rel="noreferrer">ukiyo-e</a></strong>, which until the early 18th century were done in black and white, and of which the linework is iconic:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The earliest prints were monochromatic, and these lines were the only
  printed element; even with the advent of colour this characteristic
  line continued to dominate.<br>
  <sup><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukiyo-e#Style" rel="noreferrer">source</a></sup></p>
</blockquote>

<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hokusai" rel="noreferrer">Hokusai</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiroshige" rel="noreferrer">Hiroshige</a> are its most famous exponents. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-07T11:24:05.683Z
2019-09-07T11:24:05.683Z
Joachim
<p>If I recall correctly from my art history lessons many years ago this drawing style should have a distinct name, but I can't remember.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/IRdXv.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/IRdXv.jpg" alt="Oriental drawing"></a>
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/FiZVP.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/FiZVP.jpg" alt="Oriental drawing"></a></p>

<p><sup><a href="https://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/com/014045537X" rel="nofollow noreferrer" rel="nofollow noreferrer">source</a></sup></p>

<drawing><style-identification>
What is the name of this black lines only oriental drawing style?
arsCynic
# What is the name of this black lines only oriental drawing style?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-09-07)

If I recall correctly from my art history lessons many years ago this drawing style should have a distinct name, but I can't remember.

[![Oriental drawing](https://i.sstatic.net/IRdXv.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/IRdXv.jpg)
[![Oriental drawing](https://i.sstatic.net/FiZVP.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/FiZVP.jpg)

[source](https://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/com/014045537X)

**Tags:** drawing, style-identification


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-09-07. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

The technique seems to be woodblock printing.  
You can tell by the linearity of the drawing, the lack of large dark areas, and the wavy structure of the lines. Especially the second picture shows the underlying wood nerves, as adjacent lines have the same slight deviation.

Not very oriental sounding, I know.

The Japanese term for woodblock printing is [mokuhanga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodblock_printing_in_Japan), **and stylistically, the images can be considered a form of [ukiyo-e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukiyo-e)**, which until the early 18th century were done in black and white, and of which the linework is iconic:

> The earliest prints were monochromatic, and these lines were the only
> printed element; even with the advent of colour this characteristic
> line continued to dominate.  
> [source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukiyo-e#Style)

[Hokusai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hokusai) and [Hiroshige](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiroshige) are its most famous exponents.


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