Bag and Hammer c. late to early to mid 19th century

Editor: Here we have Kikugawa Eizan's "Bag and Hammer," date unknown, from the Harvard Art Museums. It’s a print that seems to depict everyday objects. I’m intrigued by the textures and patterns. What do you see in this piece, especially considering its materials? Curator: I see the printmaking process itself as central. Look closely at the layered inks, the registration of the woodblocks. The "high art" subject matter dissolves, revealing the skilled labor and the materiality inherent in the object's creation and even consumption. Editor: So, you’re saying the value lies in the printmaking technique itself? Curator: Precisely. It challenges the traditional separation between art and craft by highlighting the means of production and the artist's labor within the woodblock print tradition. What do you think about the bag and hammer and the purpose they had in society? Editor: Interesting! I hadn't considered the implications of its production so deeply. Thank you!