The Saruwaka Dance 1804

Torii Kiyonaga made this print, The Saruwaka Dance, with ink and color on paper. Rather than painting, Kiyonaga worked in the *ukiyo-e* tradition, which literally means "pictures of the floating world." Woodblock printing was a demanding collaborative process, involving the artist, block carver, and printer. The artist did not directly produce the final image. Instead, they were part of a production system. These prints are often considered ‘popular’ art, which existed outside the elite circles of painting. Here, the flat planes of color are typical of *ukiyo-e* prints. Note the precision of the lines, which define the figures and their garments. The arrangement of figures creates a dynamic sense of movement, capturing the energy of the Saruwaka dance. Considering the materials and processes used in its creation allows us to appreciate the work as a product of skilled labor and cultural exchange, rather than simply as a decorative object.