“‘Little Purple Gromwell’ (Wakamurasaki): Shōshō,” from the series Scenes amid Genji Clouds Matched with Ukiyo-e Pictures (Genji-gumo ukiyo e-awase) 1845 - 1861

Utagawa Kuniyoshi created this woodblock print, “‘Little Purple Gromwell’ (Wakamurasaki): Shōshō,” as part of a series, Scenes amid Genji Clouds Matched with Ukiyo-e Pictures. The process of making a woodblock print demanded incredible skill and a close collaboration between the artist, the wood carver, and the printer. The artist would create the initial design, which was then meticulously transferred to a woodblock, usually cherry. The carver would use specialized tools to cut away the areas that would not be printed, leaving a raised surface. Once the block was ready, the printer would apply ink to the surface and press paper onto it to create the image. Each color required a separate block. The beauty of the final product is found in the lines and the flat planes of color, and the overall effect depended on the mastery and the labor of all involved. Looking at the finished print, we can appreciate not only Kuniyoshi's artistic vision, but also the intensive, collective work that brought it into being. This reveals the deep connections between art, craft, and society in 19th century Japan.