Gyotaku is a Japanese form of printmaking that began in the mid 1800's by fishermen. The fish were printed on rice papers as a record of the fishermen's catch. This type of printmaking is still being done today and is regarded as an art form. The prints themselves are actually very beautiful and detailed.
I showed my students a video of a contemporary Japanese artist who practices Gyotaku printing. We then discussed how printmaking works and what kinds of materials are used. After questions had been answered, we began painting a background that would later be printed on top of.
The following class period is when the fun really begins. We print with real fish! There are so many gasps of excitement and surprised "eww's" from the students when I demonstrate what we will be doing.
Here are some photos of the different times I have done this lesson. The kids always have a great time and learn a lot about a new culture and art form. It is always a class favorite!
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