Landscape View at Yokohama (Yokohama fūkei) 1860

Utagawa Sadahide created this print, Landscape View at Yokohama, using woodblock printing techniques. The process begins with a drawing, which is then transferred to a woodblock, usually cherry. Skilled artisans carve away the negative space, leaving the lines of the image raised. Each color requires a separate block. The printer carefully applies ink to the block and presses it onto paper, repeating the process for each color. Look closely, and you’ll see how the registration of colors creates depth and form. The flat, graphic quality of the print belies the labor-intensive process behind it. Woodblock prints like this one were produced in large numbers, making art accessible to a wider audience. They reflect a shift in the art world, where craft and mass production began to intersect. It blurs the lines between art, craft, and industry, prompting us to reconsider the value we place on each.