The Hanko Stamp

Close-up of Mike Palmer’s signature, or hanko stamp, on an original fish print.

A hanko stamp, or seal, is a Japanese custom used in lieu of signatures dating back millennia. Hanko stamps have many uses ranging from formal seals for stamping official documents to personal stamps for more informal uses. Regardless of the use, the hanko is traditionally stamped with red ink, forming the inkan, or the red mark made by the hanko stamp.

I have always been drawn to the stark beauty of the red inkan mark. While reproducible, each individual inkan is unique - reflective of the amount of ink placed on the hanko, the pressure applied to the paper, the texture of the paper, the humidity, …

Instead of a signature, I stamp all of my artwork with my personal hanko, whether it be a reprint, or a hand-embellished original. I use archival red ink to ensure that the signature maintains the same permanence and integrity as the artwork itself. Applying the hanko stamp is a very personal way that I connect with each piece of art that I create. I hope that you too enjoy the beauty and uniqueness of the inkan marks.