No. 26 c. 1835 - 1838

Utagawa Hiroshige created this woodblock print, likely in the 1830s, using a technique known as *ukiyo-e*. This wasn't like painting a picture; it was more like orchestrating a small industry. Each color you see here required a separate block, meticulously carved from cherry wood. A team of skilled artisans would then apply ink to these blocks and press them onto paper, layer by layer, to build up the final image. The success of *ukiyo-e* prints depended on this division of labor. It was a system that allowed for the mass production of images, catering to a growing urban audience hungry for art that reflected their daily lives, their travels, and their aspirations. We can appreciate the end result, and also the ingenuity and industry that made it possible. It challenges us to think differently about the relationship between art, labor, and consumption.