The Actor Ichikawa Danjuro V as Sukeroku in the Joruri "Sukeroku Kuruwa no Natori-gusa" (Sukeroku: Peony of the Pleasure Quarters), from the Last Act of Part Two of the Play Nanakusa Yosooi Soga (The Seven Guises of Soga), Performed at the Nakamura Theater from the Fifth Day of the Fifth Month, 1782 c. 1782

Katsukawa Shunkō created this woodblock print in 1782, depicting the actor Ichikawa Danjuro V. This work showcases Ukiyo-e, a traditional Japanese printmaking technique that translates to "pictures of the floating world." Ukiyo-e prints were made through a collaborative process: an artist created the initial design; woodcarvers then transferred the design onto multiple woodblocks, one for each color; and finally, printers applied ink to the blocks and pressed them onto paper. The materials themselves—wood, paper, ink—are simple, yet the process demands great skill. Each impression required meticulous labor, aligning the paper perfectly to achieve crisp registration of colors. The prints were not unique works of art, but rather commodities, produced and consumed on a large scale by a public audience. The inherent qualities of the wood grain influenced the texture and depth of the print, while the careful layering of colors created a sense of vibrancy. By understanding the labor and materials involved, we can fully appreciate the beauty and cultural significance of this work, challenging traditional art hierarchies.