The Wrapper for the series "Eight Views of the Parlor (Zashiki hakkei)" c. 1766

This is the wrapper for Suzuki Harunobu's series, "Eight Views of the Parlor," made in 18th century Japan, and printed on paper. The material is key here: this isn't just any paper, but *washi*, a handmade paper unique to Japan. Its texture comes from the careful layering of plant fibers, giving it both strength and a subtle visual quality. The floral pattern you see wasn't printed on, but likely created by embedding flowers into the paper pulp itself – a highly skilled process. The bold calligraphy was then added using woodblock printing, a technique that demanded precision carving and inking. Think about the labor involved: from the cultivation of plants to the papermaking and printing, each stage required specialized skills passed down through generations. What was typically considered a humble material is here transformed into an object of beauty, elevating craft to the level of art. By attending to the qualities of *washi*, and the means of its production, we see a challenge to traditional distinctions between "high" art and craft.