Pocket-Books 19th century

These Pocket-Books were made in Japan by Kubo Shunman using woodblock printing. The composition is deceptively simple. What appears at first glance to be a casually arranged still life is actually the product of a highly disciplined process. Each color you see was carefully carved into a separate block of wood. The printer then applies ink and presses it onto the paper in precise registration. The texture of the wood grain remains subtly visible, particularly on the ochre colored wallet. This is a tell-tale sign of the technique used. The very slight misalignments between the colors, known as ‘slippage’ in printing, also gives the image its appealing handmade quality. Woodblock printing was a commercial process in Japan, used for everything from advertising flyers to high-end art prints. What sets this work apart is Shunman’s sensitivity and attention to detail, raising the status of printmaking closer to that of painting. By celebrating this blend of art and craft, we are invited to see both in a new light.