Okay, I know this is strange place to ask this, but I know a lot of people are knowledgable about copyrights and matters of the like. This is my situation: Soon, I'm going to be self-releasing an indepent record. For now, I plan on releasing the music for free on the internet in mp3 format and locally via cds I create on my computer. For the cover art, I want to use an image of a Japanese woodblock print, for example "Sudden showers at Ouhashi" (which is a few hundred years old). I'm not sure if anybody would own the copyright to something like this, and if I can actually use it as a cover image. I also want to know if this would impede on my ability to get a copyright for the material. I'm either going to get the image itself online or scan one of my own woodblocks. Can I do this?

Copyright has length limited in time. It's different in different countries, but if it's from 19th century or older it should be public domain now. It may matter, however, where you have your copy from - the copy may be copyrighted AND there's current owner of the work (you should probably ask if you can use it).

If it was created in japan and not copyrighted in the country your going to use it in, It wont matter. Every country has different copywright laws, Some have none.

Don't know about the international copyright situation, suggest you go to http://www.wipo.int for info on that.
Various countrties are signed upto international treaties, so figuring that the material is from another country may not be good enough. Also, if you make the images available on the internet you are effectiviely making them available in all countries. We have seen enough news stories about web pages in one country being illegal in another, so would be worth doing your homework.
Basically, the more money you make from this, the more likely someone who owns a copyright will be sniffing out their share.

As for the woodblock print, if you use a photo of it, the copyright generally belongs to the photographer (i.e. as Mara said, the copy may be copyrighted).

That besides, good luck with the record!!

Thanks a lot guys. The particular woodblock I'm thinking about was made way before the 19th century, so I'm going to figure I'm okay. I'm going to make my own copy of the art just to make sure.

Again, thanks a lot.