Sourdough Gyotaku – Black Ink

A wonderfully unexpected take on the traditional art of Gyotaku — created not from a fish, but from a beautifully textured sourdough loaf.

Hand printed in rich black ink onto delicate Chinese Xuan paper, this original artwork captures the distinctive shape, crust and natural textures of the loaf, transforming an everyday object into something quite extraordinary.

Gyotaku traditionally involves taking an impression from a fish to record its natural form and detail. Here, I have taken that same spirit of direct printing and applied it to sourdough, creating a playful meeting point between traditional printmaking, food and contemporary art.

The deep black ink works beautifully against the warm, delicate surface of the Xuan paper, highlighting the irregularities and organic texture of the bread. Every mark and variation is part of the original impression, giving the artwork a wonderfully tactile and graphic quality.

The use of Chinese Xuan paper adds another traditional element to the piece. Known for its fine, absorbent qualities, Xuan paper allows the ink to settle beautifully into the fibres, creating subtle variations that make each print unique.

This is an original hand-printed artwork, created as a celebration of the unexpected beauty found in everyday objects.

Details

• Original hand-printed Gyotaku-inspired artwork
• Sourdough loaf
• Black ink
• Traditional Chinese Xuan paper
• Individually hand printed
• Each print is unique
• Signed by Jane Evans
• Certificate of Authenticity included

A quirky and contemporary piece of original artwork for bread lovers, foodies, print enthusiasts and anyone who appreciates something a little different. A conversation starter with a wonderfully simple graphic quality.