Print 1786 - 1854

This color woodblock print was made by Utagawa Kunisada in Japan, sometime before 1865. It's a great example of ukiyo-e, or "pictures of the floating world". Look closely, and you'll see the layered effect and crispness is created by carving separate blocks of wood for each color. The key block, which defines the outlines, would have been carved first. These ukiyo-e prints were very popular at the time, catering to a broad audience with scenes of daily life, landscapes, and portraits of actors and courtesans. This print shows two figures relaxing near a building under construction, perhaps a theater. The materiality speaks to a time of economic expansion in Japan, where the rising merchant class fueled the demand for mass-produced yet beautiful objects. In a collaborative workshop setting, artisans meticulously translated the artist's vision into multiples, each impression carrying the artistic and social energy of its time. So, when you look at this print, consider the collaborative work and the cultural context that made it possible.