A Cup of Sake before Bed (Toko sakazuki), the sixth sheet of the series "Marriage in Brocade Prints, the Carriage of the Virtuous Woman (Konrei nishiki misao-guruma)" c. 1769

This is A Cup of Sake before Bed, a woodblock print made by Suzuki Harunobu in the 18th century. It's part of a series about marriage, and we see a group of women preparing for a wedding, with a screen painting of birds and rocks acting as a backdrop. Harunobu was a master of the *nishiki-e*, or "brocade print" technique, which allowed for a greater range of colors than earlier prints. The process involved carving a separate woodblock for each color, and then carefully layering them to create a complex image. This required incredible precision and skill, not only from the artist, but also from the block carvers and printers. The soft colors and delicate lines of the print give it a sense of elegance and refinement. Yet we should also remember the labor involved in producing such an image. The *nishiki-e* prints were a collaborative effort that involved the work of many hands, making them a product of both artistic vision and skilled craftsmanship. It challenges our traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.