The Third Sawamura Sojuro as a Man Standing with Feet Spread Widely Apart 1785 - 1805

Katsukawa Shun'ei created this woodblock print of the actor Sawamura Sojuro in Japan, sometime in the late 18th or early 19th century. Woodblock printing, or *ukiyo-e*, was a highly developed process. An artist would create a design, which was then painstakingly carved into a series of woodblocks, one for each color. These blocks were then inked and printed onto paper, building up the image layer by layer. The flat, graphic style of *ukiyo-e* prints lends itself well to capturing the essence of a subject, in this case, a popular Kabuki actor. The lines are crisp and clean, the colors bold and vibrant. But it's also important to remember the immense labor involved in creating these prints. From the initial design to the carving and printing, each step required skilled artisans working collaboratively. Looking at this print, we can appreciate not only the artistry of Shun'ei, but also the craftsmanship and cultural context that shaped its creation. It's a reminder that even seemingly simple images can be the result of complex processes and social dynamics.