About the Collection
The Barry Rosensteel Japanese Print Collection was donated to the University of Pittsburgh Library System by Mr. and Mrs. Barry Rosensteel between 2008 and 2023. The collection consists of 430 wood block prints. While the earliest print dates to 1730, most of the prints were produced in the 1800s, while others were created in the 1900s. The work of over forty artists is represented in the collection. Currently, 300 prints have been digitized and made available online. One hundred and thirty prints, donated in November 2023, are currently being digitized and prepared for online viewing.
The images portray Japanese culture through detailed depictions of portraits, landscapes, wildlife and theatrical performances, taking into account some of Japan’s rich history. The prints were produced with high-quality paper. Vegetative color pigments, and, in some cases, ground precious metals, were used as part of the creative process.
The images selected for digitization constitute a significant portion of the total collection. The entire collection is preserved and managed in the Archives & Special Collections of the University Library System, where all of the original prints are available for research and scholarly studies.