Mitate of the broken cart, showing an episode of the fight between Michizane and the Fujiwara 

Kitagawa Utamaro made this print of a broken cart, sometime before 1806, using woodblocks and ink on paper. The process behind this kind of Ukiyo-e print is quite complex. An artist would first create a design, which was then meticulously carved into a series of woodblocks, one for each color. From there, the printer would dampen the paper and carefully apply each block in succession, building up the image layer by layer. Notice how the flat planes of color and bold outlines define the forms, giving the print its distinctive graphic quality. The woodblock process lends itself to clean lines and stylized shapes, emphasizing the artifice involved in the image. Utamaro's genius lies in his ability to capture both the elegance of the women, and the historical narratives represented. This kind of printmaking was a commercial enterprise, reliant on skilled labor, and catering to a broad audience. Recognizing the labor involved in this artwork challenges the traditional hierarchy between art and craft.