Once Upon a Time (A Book of Ghost Stories) 1790

This is a page from "Once Upon a Time (A Book of Ghost Stories)", made in Japan by Katsukawa Shun'ei, sometime in the late 18th or early 19th century. It's a woodblock print, a process rooted in craft and design, rather than fine art. Look closely and you can see the marks of the cutting tool that defined the image. The artist has used this to expressive effect, giving a clear sense of depth through light and shadow. The lines are especially important in the creation of the monkey's fur, where careful marks add to its textural quality. Woodblock prints like these were often produced in workshops, involving specialized carvers and printers. Shun'ei, as the designer, would have played a key role, but the final product depended on the skill of the artisans who translated his vision into a tangible form. The printmaking process has imbued it with social and cultural significance and made it affordable for popular consumption. Paying attention to the materials and making of objects like this challenges the traditional boundaries between art, craft, and social history.