Woman Fanning Herself After a Bath 1767 - 1799

This woodblock print was made by Isoda Koryūsai in eighteenth-century Japan. You can see how the artist has made use of the wood's inherent qualities to create texture within the image. The lines are clean and precise, but the color is applied with a more varied touch, as the artisan would need to carefully align multiple blocks, one for each color. This process, while highly skilled, was also collaborative and repetitive, and reflects the commercial nature of ukiyo-e prints at the time. Here, we see a woman relaxing after her bath, her light robe draped loosely as she fans herself and a curious cat is at her feet. The red veranda, and the hanging wind chime create a sense of intimacy. Koryūsai wasn’t just an artist; he was a samurai, and his embrace of this popular art form speaks to a breakdown of social hierarchies. Woodblock prints democratized artmaking, making it accessible to a broader audience. So, next time you look at a print, consider the labor involved, the skills required, and the social context that gave rise to its creation.