Snapper and Horse Mackerel c. 1835 - 1839

This print of Snapper and Horse Mackerel was made by Utagawa Hiroshige, using woodblock printing, a technique known as *ukiyo-e*. Note the precise carving of the woodblock to render the texture of the fish, particularly the scales. In contrast to Western printmaking, *ukiyo-e* is a collaborative process. Hiroshige would have created the initial design, which was then transferred and carved into blocks of wood, usually cherry. Specialist printers would then apply ink to the blocks, and press them onto paper, building up the image in layers of color. Woodblock printing was a highly developed industry in Japan, which democratized image-making. *Ukiyo-e* prints like this one were relatively inexpensive and widely available, feeding a growing appetite for art among the merchant class. With the rise of the market economy, came an art that could reflect the everyday interests of the people, rather than the elite. This print is a reminder that even the humblest materials, like fish, can be elevated to the level of high art.