At the beginning of the twentieth century the tradition of Japanese woodblock printmaking was in crisis. Until the end of the nineteenth century Japanese woodblock printmaking was seen as commercial art. Woodblock printmakers got their commissions from kabuki theaters, restaurant owners and from newspaper and book publishers. The main purpose of traditional printmaking was advertising, decoration and illustration.
With the swift modernization of Japan and especially with the use of photography for newspaper illustrations and advertising, the tradition of ukiyo-e had become an endangered species within a few years.
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