Act VII c. 1843 - 1846

Editor: Here we have Hiroshige's "Act VII," a color woodblock print from around 1843-1846. I find the contrast between the indoor scene and the nighttime exterior quite striking. What are your initial thoughts when you look at this work? Curator: It's interesting to consider this ukiyo-e print in terms of its production. Woodblock printing was a collaborative process involving the artist, block carver, printer, and publisher – each contributing to the final product. Consider the materiality – the paper, inks, and the very wood of the blocks. How did the inherent limitations and possibilities of these materials shape the artist's choices and the viewer's experience? Editor: So you are looking at the print from the point of view of the production process and materials involved. Interesting! Is it something like mass production because many prints can be obtained using the woodblocks, and this might affect how we understand it? Curator: Precisely! Ukiyo-e prints were, in their time, relatively affordable and accessible, a form of mass-produced imagery. This challenges traditional Western notions of art as unique and precious. Thinking about it in terms of social consumption—who was buying these prints, and what desires and aspirations were they fulfilling? What does that accessibility say about the social function of art? Editor: It sounds like it's important to consider who these prints were for, like everyday people and not just wealthy patrons. I see how looking at art through this material lens can help us think about the artwork differently. Curator: Exactly! Examining the materials, processes, and consumption allows us to understand its value beyond aesthetics alone, revealing social and historical context.