Toriyama Shūsaku Terutada Capturing a Pheasant with a Bow 1866

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi created this woodblock print, Toriyama Shūsaku Terutada Capturing a Pheasant with a Bow, as part of a larger series. The process starts with drawing the design, then transferring it to a block of wood, usually cherry, for carving. Specialist artisans would have been involved in the creation of each colour layer using a separate block. The image is then printed by hand, building up the colours. The character’s patterned clothing shows a skilled, labour-intensive process of dyeing and weaving. In this print, the quality of the line, the rendering of textures, and the layering of colors all contribute to the image’s overall impact. Yoshitoshi was working within a well-established commercial system. Woodblock prints like this were relatively affordable, and thus, a popular art form for a wide audience. Paying attention to materials, making, and social context helps us appreciate the skill involved, and the place of this artwork in the cultural and economic life of its time, breaking down any perceived boundaries between art and craft.