Blue; Dipper-holder of Celadon and Other Objects for the Tea Ceremony 19th century

This print was made in Japan by Kubo Shunman, using woodblock printing. The image is dominated by a pale blue silhouette of a dipper-holder, an object associated with the tea ceremony. The celadon and other objects on the lower portion are rendered with greater realism and a wider palette. Woodblock printing, or ukiyo-e, was a sophisticated craft involving specialized skills. An artist would create the original design, which was then transferred to a woodblock. A separate block was required for each color. Highly skilled printers would then apply the inks and carefully press the paper onto the block, ensuring precise registration. The resulting prints, while relatively inexpensive, were the product of a complex division of labor. Woodblock prints played a crucial role in the commercialization of art in Japan, making images accessible to a wide audience. The tea ceremony itself, while rooted in spiritual practice, was also increasingly bound up with commerce and social status. Shunman’s print, therefore, exists at the intersection of artistic skill, cultural tradition, and the burgeoning consumer culture of his time.