Nikki Bennosuke with Umbrella 1866

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi made this woodblock print, Nikki Bennosuke with Umbrella. The print is made using multiple blocks of wood, each inked with a different color. Look closely, and you can see how the artist used the grain of the wood to create texture, particularly in the background. The flat, bold colors and clear outlines are typical of this ukiyo-e style, emphasizing line and form. Notice the floral pattern on the figure's kimono. This level of detail required a highly skilled artisan, carving the wood with precision. Prints like this were produced for a mass audience, catering to a growing merchant class with disposable income. Woodblock printing allowed for the efficient production of affordable art, linking artistic skill with commercial enterprise. The process behind this print asks us to consider the labor involved in its creation, and how traditional crafts intersected with the economy. It's a reminder that even seemingly simple images can have a deep history, blurring the boundaries between art, craft, and commerce.