Wind Blown Grass Across the Moon 

Utagawa Hiroshige's "Wind Blown Grass Across the Moon" is a woodblock print, a medium deeply rooted in Japanese craft traditions. The process begins with a drawing, transferred to a woodblock, and then painstakingly carved by skilled artisans. The final print isn't just an image; it's the result of a complex collaboration between the artist, the carver, and the printer. Each contributes to the work's final appearance, with the wood's grain subtly influencing the ink's texture and the overall impression. Multiple blocks are used, one for each color, requiring precise alignment. Woodblock printing in Hiroshige's time wasn't considered high art, but a popular, commercial form, making art accessible to a wider audience. Appreciating the material and process allows us to acknowledge the skilled labor involved, and to reconsider the boundary between craft and art.