Traditional Japanese woodblock prints are made on washi, a strong, long-fibered Japanese paper often produced from kōzo (mulberry). Washi is remarkably durable (one reason so many prints have survived for a century or more) but it remains sensitive to moisture, prolonged light exposure, handling, and improper storage. Additionally, many Japanese prints were made using water-based pigments and dyes, some of which are particularly susceptible to fading.
Direct sunlight is the greatest concern, but prolonged exposure to strong artificial light can also gradually alter the colors. All artwork, no matter how it's displayed, is slowly damaged by visible light. We recommend a few simple ways of mitigating the fading to your prints, so they are preserved for future generations:
Display prints away from direct sunlight. Find a spot in your home that's lit with indirect light. Because I live in Southern California, the sun beams in through the south facing side of my house all year long, so I keep my prints away from those rooms.
Use UV-filtering acrylic or glazing whenever possible. UV protection substantially reduces damaging ultraviolet exposure. Glass does not.
Have a rotation of prints and keep some protected in storage. There is no need to keep every print permanently on the wall and periodically resting works from light is good conservation practice. It's common for artwork to change with the seasons in Japan, so this is a good technique that will mitigate fading.
FRAMES
When framing a print, we recommend showing the full sheet and its borders rather than matting directly over them. Margins can contain publisher seals, printer and carver marks, registration marks, edition information, and other evidence of how and when a print was made. Even when unmarked, the edges and proportions of the original sheet are part of the object.
STORING
When not on display, we recommend keeping prints flat in an archival art portfolio, folder, or binder, preferably with acid-free or conservation-quality materials. Store them somewhere dry and temperate, away from excessive heat, humidity, and large changes in temperature.
FRAMING KIT - $50
For an additional $50, I am happy to include a "framing kit" with your purchase. This will include: a white acid-free backing board cut to your chosen frame size, 4 clear 1.25" mounting corners and optionally, a white mat window.
You can repurpose an old frame or buy a new one, then utilize the framing kit to assure your print will be preserved.