These hand-painted postcards are usually not only the apotheosis of the decorative nature of the Japanese art, but also works that show personality and ingenuity. They can reflect the painters' ideas of creation and their actual feelings about the society more than ordinary works that were created for the sole purpose of creation or other well-known Ukiyoe. The traces of emotions experienced by the artists in the real world are shown in these works. They are not large-scale grand works, nor do they contain soul-stirring themes, yet the artistic value of these works is not all diminished. On the contrary, because these are unique originals done by hand, and not affordable for the average people, they are valued all the more by Ukiyoe collectors.

	The Beauty of Paintings in Mineral Pigments Mineral pigments are made of pulverized minerals. It is mostly used in Japanese-style painting. It does not fade and remains constant. Japanese-style painting is actually what is referred to as glue-solution paintings. In terms of painting classification, water-color painting use water, oil-paintings use oil, and glue-solution paintings use glue. These three materials are used to dilute the pigments, so that coloring can be facilitated. Paintings in mineral pigments can be done on silk or paper. Today's Japanese-style paintings are mostly done on a wood plate, or propped up with wooden sticks, in the same manner as oil paintings are made. In a word, paintings in mineral pigments are colored Japanese-style painting. Westerners call colored painting in mineral pigments "Nihongo", which is a phonetic translation of "Japanese-style painting." view
	Modern Ukiyoe Ukiyoe is a kind of colored woodblock prints. It rose in the Edo period (1603-1867) and waned in the early Meiji period. An art of the common people. Ukiyoe employed the life of the common people at its subject matter. Most of the Ukiyoe collectors were also commoners. Like the posters of movie stars and singers in modern times, those products were affordable for all those who liked them. Because of their popularity among the common people, these prints were called "Ukiyoe" or "Portraits of the Floating World". view
	The Craftsmanship of Characters Emakimono is a kind of painting in ancient Japan, which we usually call "scrolls" nowadays. They are folded most of the time, and have to be unfolded for appreciation. The peak eras of the scrolls were the 13 and 14 centuries. The subject matter was usually a story, and as fragments of the story were narrated with pictures. Since the scrolls were exquisitely framed, standards of the painting and the calligraphy became precious art works. view
	Ink and Wash Miniatures The Japanese ink and wash was originated in Zen temples in the early 14th century. During the Edo Era it became a hobby of the literati. In the beginning of the Meiji Era, it then turned into a pastime for the old educated class to express their poetic feelings. It was never the center stage of the Japanese art, yet it lingered on as a hobby among the literati. view
	The Charm of Seals Commemorative stamps, which were quite popular in Japan in recent times, were developed from the art of seals. Some stores even designed fun-looking fonts for their signs by themselves. These fonts were then carved onto seals and stamped on invitations. They were of course a way of promotion before modern printing became popular. Nevertheless, they demonstrated ingenuity and skills even by today's standards. view
	Special Materials and Techniques It was quite popular to communicate via postcards during the Japanese Meiji Era. This was made possible largely by an interconnected communications network and a sound postal service. Manifesting the ingenuity and skill of the artists, these postcards are a combination of craftsmanship and painting. The imposibility to mass-produce these postcards makes them much precious. view
	Mounting the Picture of History This series of cards was made as collages of such articles as government bonds, theater tickets and programs, commemorative stamps issued on special holidays, photographs, even wraps of cigarette, etc. They were stamped with commemorative postmarks and even decorated with illustrations. Their commemorative value often exceeds their aesthetic appeal. view
	Imagery and Plot of Penmanship This series of pictures is based on pictures of poetry and literature. It surrounds closely the "plot" constituted by words, searching for the beauty of its inner meaning. The layout of the works lays particular stress on exquisite lines and asymmetry. Most of the notes of Japanese music or title pages of the relevant literature and poetry that used were affixed at an angle to the postcards. In addition to the wording functions of supplementing the subject manner of the picture and of unifying the imagery, its charming style also plays an important role in the visual balance of the whole general appearance of the picture, thus having the function of both decoration and colign=top>	Wooden Scenic Postcards This series of 12 Japanese scenic postcards employed the technique of black-and-white photography to project images on thin, specially processed wooden sheets, and then colors were applied to the sheets by hand. The fine and delicate texure of the thin, specially selected wooden sheets, along with special technique employed in processing the sheets, aptly create right variations, and a glittery and lucid touch of brilliance. view

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