Actor Ichikawa DanjÅ«rō 7th as Katō Kiyomasa with Entourage of Retainers, with poems by Funanoya Amibito and Jingairō Kiyosumi c. 1815 - 1830

Editor: This woodblock print, "Actor Ichikawa Danjūrō 7th as Katō Kiyomasa with Entourage of Retainers" by Utagawa Kunisada, has such intricate detail in the warriors' armor. What can you tell me about the production of this print, considering the materials and context? Curator: The process is key. Notice the labor involved: carving the woodblocks, applying ink and pressure to transfer the image onto paper. Consider the socio-economic factors. These prints were relatively affordable, made for mass consumption, and circulated widely, connecting audiences to popular actors and historical narratives. Editor: That's fascinating! I never considered the print as a form of mass media, connecting it to a wider audience and consumer culture. Curator: Exactly! It challenges our notion of art as solely highbrow, revealing how art also functions as a commodity shaped by production and accessibility. Editor: I see how the materiality and method of production give it such value. Thank you! Curator: Indeed, understanding the material reality gives us a new appreciation.