This summer, PAPIER LABO. launches a deeply personal new project: the "COLLOTYPE PHOTOGRAPH SERIES." These postcards, created using the rare collotype printing technique, are a must-see. We delve into their expressive power and untold charm.

Few people today are likely familiar with collotype printing. Born in France in the mid-19th century, it is the world's oldest pigment-based photogravure technique. It achieves a smooth, deep finish that even high-definition offset printing cannot replicate.

Its hallmarks are superior reproducibility and the strong durability imparted by the use of pigments, making it suitable for creating replicas of cultural assets and for fine art printing. Every step of the process is done by hand, demanding significant time, effort, and budget, making it inaccessible for casual experimentation. PAPIER LABO. was no exception, but an encounter with Benrido, a venerable Kyoto-based fine art printer and publisher, led to the creation of these collotype postcards by four photographers.

Benrido established its collotype studio in 1905 and later achieved color printing with the then monochrome-only collotype technique. Today, they primarily handle reproductions of artworks and cultural properties. Collotype is a craft that, even for skilled artisans, requires meticulous care and keen judgment. For this project, plates were remade and proofs were repeatedly adjusted. This truly underscores the dedication poured into this endeavor.

The "COLLOTYPE PHOTOGRAPH SERIES" featuring works by Risaku Suzuki, Lieko Shiga, Kazuo Sugawara, and Masahiro Miibe will be available at PAPIER LABO. starting July 9th. We invite you to experience the new dimension of photographs as tangible objects.

"COLLOTYPE PHOTOGRAPH SERIES"
Location | PAPIER LABO.
Address | 1-1-1 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 106
Hours | 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Closed | Sundays, Mondays