Water Scene 1840

This print, *Water Scene*, was made by Utagawa Kuniyoshi in 19th-century Japan using woodblock printing. This process involves carving an image into a block of wood, applying ink, and pressing paper onto the block. The lines of the image are crisp, and the colors are vibrant. The print is made up of multiple blocks, each with a different color, that are carefully aligned to create the final image. The texture of the paper adds another layer to the print, giving it a tactile quality. Kuniyoshi was part of a robust commercial industry centered in Edo (present-day Tokyo). In this period, there was great demand for printed images of fashionable actors, courtesans, and scenes from daily life, as depicted here. Woodblock printing was a labor-intensive, highly skilled form of production, which allowed the widespread distribution of images to a broad public audience. By considering its material process, we can understand this print not just as a work of art, but as a product of its time, reflective of wider social and economic forces.