1.
illustration; plate; figure; printed image in a publication
An illustration, photograph, diagram, or other visual image printed in a book, magazine, or other publication. Often refers specifically to full-page or high-quality reproductions.
Composed of 図 (figure, drawing) and 版 (printing plate, edition). Originally referred to the printing plate used to reproduce images, now refers to the printed image itself.
Usage
Common in publishing, art, and academic contexts. Art books, encyclopedias, and academic texts often list their 図版 in a separate index. The word implies a certain level of quality or formality — casual photos in a magazine would not typically be called 図版.
Common collocations
- カラー図版: color plate
- 図版目録: plate index; list of illustrations
- 図版を掲載する: to include an illustration
- 図版解説: plate description; caption
- 図版一覧: list of figures
Similar words
- 挿絵: illustration (in a book) — specifically an artistic drawing inserted into the text, often in fiction
- 図表: charts and figures — refers to diagrams, graphs, and tables rather than photographic or artistic reproductions
- 写真: photograph — a general term; 図版 is more formal and can include non-photographic images