Illustrated "Anthology of Tang-Dynasty Poems" in Five-Syllable Lines (Tōshisen ehon gogon ritsu hairitsu 画本唐詩選五言律排律) 1836

This is an illustrated book produced by Katsushika Hokusai, the celebrated Japanese artist best known for his woodblock print series "Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji". Here, Hokusai utilizes traditional techniques of woodblock printing to illustrate an anthology of Tang Dynasty poems. Look closely, and you can see the texture of the paper, the crispness of the lines, and the subtle gradations of ink. The black ink, made from charred pine or oil soot mixed with animal glue, is key to the print's visual impact. The images are carved into wooden blocks, then printed onto paper, a labor-intensive process requiring collaboration between the artist, block carver, and printer. The book format makes these poems and their accompanying images accessible to a wide audience, contributing to the popularization of art and literature during the Edo period. The materiality of the book - the paper, ink, and wood - are not just mediums for artistic expression but also carriers of cultural and social meaning. Appreciating the artistry and labor involved in its production challenges conventional hierarchies between art, craft, and design.